Spalding United 0
Wisbech Town 2
Chris Rawlinson admitted that his Spalding United side were second best as Wisbech Town dumped them out of the Emirates FA Cup on Tuesday night.
A stunning first-half free-kick from ex-Tulip Josh Ford (36) and Billy Smith’s late clincher (82) settled the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field replay in the Fenmen’s favour – banking them £1,925 in prize money in the process.
The victory was no more than Dick Creasey’s Wisbech deserved, with their defending – marshalled superbly by ex-Spalding skipper Jamie Stevens – impeccable all night.
Tulips boss Rawlinson felt the ChromaSport UCL Premier Division side deserved their win and reckons that they’d more than hold their own up in the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South.
Rawlinson said: “It’s a blow for the club as a whole, of course it is. Obviously, we were never going to win the FA Cup, but it’s still a blow.
“Fair play to Wisbech, they nicked a 1-0 from what I think was their only shot on target in the first half and then defended for their lives. I thought they defended brilliantly.
“They deserved their win and that side they fielded would hold its own in our league – it’s a experienced and talented team.
“For us, it was a chance for the squad players to stand up and be counted with players unavailable and I thought we came up a little bit short.
“We need to bounce back in the league, but I need to go away and think about where we went wrong and adjust accordingly.”
The Tulips almost made a dream start to the replay with Gary King seeing his chip tipped away by keeper Sam Vince, who had initially gifted him the ball.
At the other end, the Fenmen saw a big appeal for a penalty waved away when Adam Millson’s fierce strike looked to hit the hand of Ellis Humble.
Smith then curled a free-kick past the post and Ford looped a head just over from a long throw as the visitors grew into the game.
However, King went close again from a Lee Beeson free-kick, nodding just over at the near post.
Spalding also looked dangerous from Matt Varley’s trademark long throws, with Wisbech’s Jon Fairweather doing his best not to turn one into his own net.
The pace of teen talent Jonny Lockie was also causing Wisbech problems – and he was unlucky not to open the scoring with a poked effort that just missed the near corner.
Jack Fixter also lashed an effort over following a scramble, but it was the away side who grabbed the opener on 36 minutes.
Ford won a controversial free-kick some 25 yards out, then picked himself up to curl a sensational effort into the corner to give his side a half-time lead.
The second half began in a low-key manner, with the sides cancelling each other out and play broken up by foul after foul.
Wisbech carried the greater goal threat and went close to doubling their lead when Smith’s near-post strike was kept out by Duggan.
Spalding threw on youngster Marcel Chipamaunga as they looked for a leveller, but struggled to create chances. Lockie lashed a volley from outside of the box over, while Adam Jackson sent a trademark 25-yarder just over too.
It was the Fenmen who grabbed the all-important second goal eight minutes from time, though, with the tricky Smith sending a low drive from the left across Duggan and into the corner.
Chipamaunga and Lockie had late chances, but Wisbech never looked like conceding and deserved their clean-sheet.
A trip to Kempston awaits them in the next round, while Spalding prepare for two tough games over the Bank Holiday weekend.
Rawlinson’s side visit Newcastle Town on Saturday (3pm), then host Cleethorpes Town on Monday (3pm). Beeson misses Saturday’s game, but Cenk Acar and Nathan Whitehead could return.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Humble, Spafford, Varley, Beeson, Fixter (Higginson 70), Lockie, King (McGhee 83), Harris (Chipamaunga 65).
Sponsors’ MOTM: Neal Spafford.
