Spalding United 0
Lincoln United 0
Marcus Ebdon accepted that Spalding United’s hopes of reaching the Evo-Stik NPL Division One South play-offs are all but over after an Easter Monday bore draw with Lincoln United.
The Tulips and fifth-placed Lincoln cancelled each other out at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, with neither side doing enough to deserve all three points.
In a game of few chances, Spalding went close in the second half through Charley Sanders and Paul Walker – but in truth neither keeper was really tested.
The draw, a third in a week for Ebdon’s side after away stalemates at Carlton Town (0-0) and Belper Town (1-1), leaves them 11th in the table and ten points off fifth-placed Lincoln with just five games left.
The Tulips chief said: “It was a bit of a bore draw, to be honest. We had a couple of chances that we could have done better with, but a clean sheet is always good.
“Obviously the wind didn’t help either side. We’ve had a few games now that have been ruined by it.
“There was nothing in the game and nothing between the teams, really.
“I would think this result means that are play-off hopes are over. We needed more points from the three games before this one to keep us in and around the top five.
“It’s obviously not mathematically impossible for us, but it’ll be very tough now. If I was a betting man, I’d not back us to make it.
“We’ve just lacked that bit of quality up front in recent weeks and perhaps haven’t picked up as many points as we’ve deserved.”
Despite heavy rain on Easter Monday, the Sir Halley surface was deemed fit to play by referee Matt Law – although the gusty winds ensured quality football was at a premium.
Rob Norris caused Spalding a few problems early on, with Duggan forced to claw away his dangerous free kick. The striker then dragged a long-range effort wide of the post, which turned out to be the only genuine attempt of the first 30 minutes.
At the other end, the recalled Sanders was unlucky to see a powerful effort just miss the near top corner from a pretty tight angle just before the break.
The Tulips started the second half a little brighter, with man-of-the-match Dan Banister firing an ambitious effort from distance just over the bar.
Sam Murphy – who against impressed as a make-shift central defender – then sent a volley wide of the post after Joe Curtis’ free kick was saved by Mariano Ziccardi.
The industrious Banister had another pop from distance a few minutes later, but his half-volley again dropped just over the target.
Lincoln stepped it up a gear in the closing stages and did go close when Nathan Whitehead’s dipping half-volley flew over Duggan’s bar.
The Whites looked a bit more dangerous going forward, but it was Spalding who had three presentable late openings.
First, Sanders saw a close-range effort deflected wide when it seemed certain that he’d score, then skipper Nathan Stainfield nodded the resulting corner over.
They went even closer in the final few minutes when Curtis’ corner caused a scramble in the box, but Walker’s left-footed strike was cleared off the line.
Equally, Lincoln had a late effort scrambled off the line following a corner, but the Tulips cleared their lines well.
Neither side could argue that a point was fair, but Spalding were left to rue a third draw in six days that has essentially ended their promotion dream.
Next up for them is a trip to second-placed Shaw Lane Aquaforce on Saturday (3pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Spafford, Jackson, Murphy, Stainfield, Lawlor, Walker, Banister, Waumsley (Tricks 78), Sanders (Humble 90), Curtis (Lockie 78). Not used: Kadar, Talbot.
MOTM: Banister.
Attendance: 150
RESULTS
Evo-Stik NPL
Division One South: Carlton Town 0 Basford United 1; Chasetown 1 Stafford Rangers 0; Coalville Town 1 Gresley 0; Kidsgrove Athletic 1 Market Drayton Town 1; Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1 Belper Town 0; Spalding United 0 Lincoln United 0; Tividale 0 Romulus 2.
