Spalding United 0
Matlock Town 0
(Matlock win 4-3 on penalties)
Caretaker boss Marcus Ebdon admitted that his future with Spalding United will soon be decided after watching his side exit The Integro Doodson League Cup on Tuesday night.
The Tulips drew 0-0 with Evo-Stik League Premier Division outfit Matlock Town at the Sir Halley Stewart, but were beaten 4-3 on penalties thanks to misses from Jamie Graham and Jake Newman.
Matlock played most of the second half with ten men, having seen Scott Maxfield sent off for foul or abusive language minutes after half time.
Ebdon, who stepped up to take charge of Spalding after Pat Rayment’s exit last week, held talks with the club’s board after the defeat.
The ex-Everton and Peterborough United professional is the club’s number one choice and confirmed that he’ll make his decision before Saturday’s Evo-Stik League First Division South trip to Leek Town (3pm) – while also adding that he won’t be swayed by whatever ex-colleague Rayment decides to do next.
Rayment has been heavily linked with the vacant managerial position at Stamford – and it was feared that he’d want to take Ebdon and Tulips coach Danny Hussey with him if appointed.
Ebdon said: “I’m having a meeting with the board, so everyone will know the situation in the next 48 hours or so. I am interested.
“Things have got to be sorted out and we’re going to have a chat to see what we’re both thinking.
“My decision has got nothing to do with what is going in elsewhere with Pat (Rayment), it’ll be based on what I want to do.”
Ebdon’s second game in charge of the Tulips was never likely to live up to the first, a 5-0 win over Newcastle Town on Saturday.
Neither side really created much in the opening exchanges, with defences very much on top. That was certainly the case for Spalding skipper Nathan Stainfield, who produced an awesome tackle to nip an attack from Niall McManus in the bud.
Going forward, Josh Moreman was Spalding’s biggest threat – and he fired wide from a 30-yard free kick.
The best chance of the half fell to the visitors on 40 minutes, but McManus dinked well wide after racing clear on the right.
Things improved after the interval, but Matlock were soon dealt a blow when Maxfield was sent off for allegedly swearing at referee Alistair Wilson.
Bizarrely, the visitors improved markedly when down to ten men and alomost instantly went ahead when skipper Ed Cribley forced a smart close-range save from Michael Duggan. Player/boss Mark Hume then failed to connect with a half-volley when free six yards out, as Matlock pushed for a winner.
But they understandably tired towards the end and Spalding had two chances to win it. The first saw Dan Lawlor curl a fine effort towards the top corner, only for George Willis to acrobatically turn his strike over the bar.
Sub Dan Banister than forced Willis to save well with his legs in the final minute as the match went to penalties.
Moreman and Laurie Wilson both scored to make it 1-1, before Graham blasted his effort well over.
Ryan Fallowfield, Paul Walker and Cribley all notched after that to put Matlock 3-2 ahead, before Newman and Craig Nelsthorpe both fired off target. Man-of-the-match Stainfield levelled the scores, but Joel Purkiss held his nerve to fire the visitors to victory.
The shoot-out woe continues a run of bad luck for the Tulips, who have lost three cup ties (Holbeach United and Stamford twice) on penalties in recent years.
Despite the defeat, Ebdon was happy enough with what he saw from Spalding – and admitted that he and the players won’t be losing any sleep over the loss.
He added: “I’m happy with the performance, I think we did well and worked very hard. I actually think we played worse when they went down to ten men. They got back into the game and stopped doing what we’re good at – passing.
“To be honest, if we’re going to lose in a competition then this is the one. With respect, the league is what we’re all here for.
“If we go again on Saturday and get three points this will quickly be forgotten.”
Spalding may have to do without Mitch Griffiths at Leek on Saturday after he tweaked his knee.
Striker Newman is pushing for a start, but the Tulips don’t want to rush his recovery from a hamstring injury.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Stainfield, Spafford, Murphy, Griffiths (Banister 49), Lawlor, Graham, Moreman, Thurlbourne (Newman 64). Not used: Sanders, Lockie.
MOTM: Stainfield.
Attendance: 124.
