Stafford Rangers 2
Spalding United 0
Two first-half strikes from Evo-Stik League First Division South leaders Stafford Rangers sentenced Marcus Ebdon to his first league loss as Spalding United boss on Saturday.
Fine finishes from Nathan Rooney (17) and Peter Till (25) were enough to send Stafford nine points clear at the top of the table, while Spalding remain well-positioned in fourth.
The hosts did play the entire second period with ten men after Matt Wood was sent off on 43 minutes for two yellow cards awarded for fouling Josh Moreman.
But Ebdon’s side were unable to break their hosts down and consequently suffered their first defeat in six games.
The Tulips boss said: “We never really got going in the first half. They had the wind behind them and made it count.
“We huffed and we puffed a lot in the second half, but just couldn’t get back into the game.
“It was a rare poor performance from us, but credit to Stafford.
“They do look like a side capable of running away with this league, I’m not surprised at their position.”
The Tulips were without goal ace Jake Newman, who was serving the first game of a three-match suspension picked up when playing for former club Wellingborough Town in the early weeks of the season, but welcomed back Jamie Graham after a few weeks’ absence.
With the wind and rain at their backs and a very wet surface under foot, Stafford were quickly out of the blocks and pressuring the visiting defence. Ben Haseley gave notice of their intent with a tenth minute shot from 30 yards which rose inches above Michael Duggan’s bar.
At the other end, Mitch Griffiths worked space down the left side to whip over a good cross which Dan Lawlor headed straight at Adam Whitehouse.
But the home side were soon ahead when the ever-prominent Rooney provided a blistering finish to a sequence of crisp passing movements to beat Duggan from fully 25 yards out.
Within two minutes a post prevented the Tulips from going further behind, before play was quickly switched to the other end where Moreman curled a well-struck shot inches wide of the woodwork.
However, in similar style to their opening goal, Stafford extended their lead midway through the half when Till drilled the ball in from a distance.
There was a boost for the Tulips at the end of the first period, though, with Wood’s second yellow ensuring the game was far from over.
With the wind also at their backs, the Tulips began to take the game to the home side after the break – but found it difficult to penetrate two defensive lines of four defenders. When they did break through, keeper Whitehouse was there to deny them.
Adam Jackson was inches away from reducing arrears with a free kick that flew fractionally wide of the target.
Dan Banister also went close on two occasions, with one of his efforts forcing Whitehouse into a particularly good save.
In the closing minutes both Sam Murphy and Nathan Stainfield connected with good headers from corner situations, but neither could find the net.
Spalding trip to Gresley was called off on Tuesday, meaning their next game is the visit of Basford United on Saturday (3pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Spafford, Stainfield, Banister (Sanders 79), Griffiths, Lawlor, Graham, Waumsley (Murphy 46), Moreman (Lockie 84). Not used: Humble.
Attendance: 443.
