Spalding United 4
Leek Town 1
Resurgent Spalding United avenged their midweek FA Trophy loss against Leek with an impressive Evo-Stik League First Division South success on Saturday.
An early Tom Waumsley (6) strike put the Tulips in command of the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field clash, only for Darren Chadwick (33) to head the visitors level before the break.
Stunning second-half strikes from Jack McGovern (62) and Chris Hall (80) then put the Tulips back in the box seat, before a classy late Ryan Oliver effort (90) put the cherry on top for Pat Rayment’s side.
On what was a wet and wild day, the Tulips handed a start to Jamie Stevens after his move from rivals Holbeach United on Wednesday.
The central defender had barely touched the ball by the time Waumsley fired the hosts ahead, though. The striker showed typical predator-like instincts to divert home Lewis Webb’s driven ball into the box on six minutes.
Leek, however, were the better side in the opening exchanges – and they were unlucky not to level when Ant Danylyr’s strike from the edge of the box was blocked on the line by McGovern.
The away side wanted a penalty for handball, which would have seen the Spalding midfielder sent off as keeper Michael Duggan was well beaten.
It was no major surprise when Leek levelled just past the half hour. It was a soft one for Spalding to ship, though, with Chadwick afforded the freedom of the penalty box to head into the net following a free kick on the right.
Duggan was then forced into a flying save to keep out Danylyr’s 30-yard piledriver, as the sides remained level at half time.
The opening 15 minutes of the second period was pretty nondescript – and anybody in attendance would have been forgiven if they had nodded off.
The Tulips did have one sniff of goal when Waumsley got in behind and forced a brave save from Town keeper Ben Chapman.
But it was midfield ace McGovern who provided the shot in the arm that Spalding needed on 62 minutes with a truly sensational strike. The ex-Grantham Town man lobbed home a simply sublime effort from the left hand side from just outside the box.
At the other end, only a terrific last-ditch tackle from the ever-impressive Adam Jackson denied Tim Grice a one-on-one chance with Duggan, but it was Spalding who produced another moment of magic ten minutes from time.
McGovern was involved again as he teed up the in-form Hall, who pinged an incredibly well controlled low drive into the far corner for Chapman’s net for 3-1. It was the midfield maestro’s second stunner in as many games against Leek.
Not content with that, the Tulips had one more glorious goal in their locker. Striker Oliver, who had only been on the field a matter of minutes, waltzed through the away defence before slotting a low drive under Chapman.
It may not have been a game for the purist, but Spalding’s eighth league win of the season moves them up to eighth in the table and keeps them on the edge of the play-off picture.
Defender Nathan Stainfield, who was his usual impressive self alongside debutant Stevens, is now hoping he and his team-mates can kick on and break into the top five.
He said: “I think the difference from Tuesday’s game was that we had a bit more cutting edge in the final third if I’m honest.
“Apart from the goal, I don’t think they really broke us down and I can’t recall Michael Duggan having to make too many saves.
“It was a good all-round team performance with no silly mistakes from anyone.
“Over the three games we’ve proved we can mix it with one of the league’s better sides and now we can look to kick on and get into that top five.
“Obviously it was really nice to have Jamie Stevens back too. We had a good partnership last season and hopefully that’ll continue.”
Spalding are back at home on Tuesday with a Doodson Sport Cup clash against Mickleover Sports (7.45pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Leary, Jackson, Stevens, Stainfield, Webb, Griffiths (J Thurlbourne 55), Hall, Waumsley (G Stainfield 83), Nuttell (Oliver 86), McGovern. Not used: Kennedy, Pycock.
Attendance: 139
Saturday’s Evo-Stik League First Division South results
Goole 2 Chasetown 1; Loughborough Dynamo 0 Sutton Coldfield Town 5; Market Drayton Town 1 Mickleover Sports 6; Newcastle Town 1 Lincoln United 0; Romulus 4 Sheffield FC 2; Spalding United 4 Leek Town 1; Stafford Rangers 3 Brigg Town 0; Stocksbridge Park Steels 1 Coalville Town 1.
