Spalding United 4
Brigg Town 1
Spalding United are up and running in Evo-Stik League Division One South after scoring three goals in the final 17 minutes to sink battling Brigg on Tuesday night.
All looked to be going to plan for the Tulips when Jamie Thurlbourne fired them ahead on 19 minutes at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing FIeld.
A controversial leveller – awarded as an own goal to keeper Michael Duggan – threatened to deny the hosts their first win of the season 25 minutes from time, but Kern Miller (73), Tom Waumsley (78) and Mitch Griffiths (86) all notched to steer the Tulips to victory.
Brigg did have keeper Jody Barford sent off 13 minutes from time, but it failed to take any of the gloss off Spalding’s best performance at step four of the non-league ladder in recent memory.
The three points left Tulips chief Pat Rayment a happy man – and he admitted that he never felt his side were in too much trouble.
He said: “I’ve got to be very, very pleased. It’s all about trying to get as many points on the board before we get our full strength team out.
“I never felt like we were going to lose the game. I’m not sure what happened with their goal, but as soon as it went in we upped our game – and that killed them off.
“I’m pleased for Mitch and Jamie to get on the scoresheet, that’ll do their confidence no end of good.”
After a quiet opening to their first home game in the Evo-Stik League since 2011, the Tulips almost fell behind when Josh Nichol benefitted from a weak Peter Bore back pass. Fortunately, keeper Duggan was alive enough to save with his legs.
Once settled, Spalding went ahead on 19 minutes with a real cracker. Jordan Thomas whipped in a deep cross for Thurlbourne, who cut inside his man and lashed a fierce right-footed drive into the roof of the net.
The lively Thurlbourne almost doubled the advantage just before the break, but his venomous free-kick was deflected over by a Brigg head.
With the hosts bossing possession early in the second period, you got the feeling they’d go on to extend their lead.
That wasn’t the case though – and Brigg stunned the Sir Halley with a scrappy goal 25 minutes from time.
With Duggan seemingly fouled by two defenders, he could only punch a corner up into the air. The ball dropped back over his head and into the net for what could go down as an own goal.
As it turned out, being pegged back was the shot in the arm Spalding needed.
They got themselves back in front 17 minutes from time when Miller – impressive once again in central defence – headed Thurlbourne’s inswinging corner into the net.
Sub Waumsley rattled the bar with a looping header moments later, but the situation got worse for Brigg when keeper Barford misjudged the bounce of a ball over the top and handled outside his box.
He was given his marching orders – and with outfield player Brett Lucas forced to go in goal, Waumsley made the points safe from the resultant free-kick with a scrambled close-range finish.
The Tulips did save the best for last, with winger Griffiths marking his first start with a stunner. He cut in from the right to fire a wicked left-footed strike into the far top corner.
It was no more than Spalding deserved and gives them a platform to build on ahead of Saturday’s home clash with Chasetown (3pm) and Monday’s trip to Carlton Town (3pm).
Star striker Andrew Tidswell and talismanic defender Nathan Stainfield will both return for those games – and Rayment is targeting maximum points.
He added: “If we can get three points on Saturday and Monday, all of a sudden you’ve won three out of your first four games – and it’ll probably put us up there.
“But there are no easy games. Even though we won 4-1, it wasn’t like a marauding UCL performance. That’s not going to happen any more.
“As long as we look solid, like we’ve done in both games, I’ll be happy.”
Tulips: Duggan, Bore, Jackson, Miller, Leary, Webb, Griffiths (G Stainfield 86), Hall, Burbeary (Waumsley 67), Thurlbourne. Not used: McKue, N Stainfield, Roberts.
Attendance: 121
Tuesday’s Evo-Stik League First Division South results: Goole AFC 3 Sheffield FC 1; Gresley FC 0 Sutton Coldfield Town 0;Loughborough Dynamo 3 Carlton Town 2; Market Drayton Town 1 Leek Town 2; Newcastle Town 3 Kidsgrove Athletic 1; Rainworth MW 2 Mickleover Sports 2; Spalding United 4 Brigg Town 1; Stafford Rangers 1 Norton United 0; Stocksbridge PS2 0 Lincoln United 0; Tividale 3 Coalville Town 0.
