Spalding United 0
Kidsgrove Athletic 0
Dave Frecklington refused to be too downbeat after watching his Spalding United side draw 0-0 with Kidsgrove Athletic on Saturday – and lose their grip on top spot in Evo-Stik NPL First Division South in the process.
In a Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field clash that proved to be a real war of attrition, neither side quite did enough to merit the full three points.
The stalemate sees the Tulips drop to second in the standings, trailing Shaw Lane AFC – who have four games in hand on them – on goal difference.
The sides meet at Spalding next week, with Frecklington pleased that his side did at least extend their unbeaten run to six matches.
He does admit to “rollocking” his charges at half time after seeing them drop their usual high standards, but stopped short of criticising them on a day when a draw was perhaps fair.
“We’re never going to get our own way anymore,” admitted Frecklington, “You could tell how things would be from the start with the way they set up.
“Their three centre halves were literally defending on their 18-yard box and denied us space to get in.
“If you look at our intensity, our workrate and our endeavour – it wasn’t at the level that it has been over the last four or five weeks.
“I gave them a rollocking at half-time because they deserved it. We’ve given ourselves a really good opportunity to be where we are in the table through a lot of hard work and graft in an excellent December.
“Then we waste that by going out and waiting for something to happen. It wasn’t good enough.
“In the second half there was a lot more intensity and we put the ball in better areas.
“We must have put the ball into their box 20 times in the second half, but – to be fair to them – they defended for their lives and I thought they were worthy of a point.
“The positives are that, in November, we’d have lost that game. Sometimes you have to take on board that we’ve won five of the last six and drawn one, plus we kept five clean sheets.
“We’ve made an unbeaten start to the year, which I’m really pleased about, and we go into the big game against Shaw Lane next week unbeaten in six.”
Spalding handed a start to on-loan keeper Richard Walton, who replaced the injured Michael Duggan having joined from Lincoln City.
Fellow new recruit Lee Beeson was on the bench, but didn’t manage to get on for his second Spalding debut.
It was the Tulips who created the first real opening, with top scorer Brad Wells sliding a low effort wide of the post after finding a pocket of space on the left side of the box.
Strike partner Brad Barraclough also had an early sight of goal, but couldn’t quite connect with Conor Higginson’s clever through ball.
Then came big chances at either end. First, Nathan Stainfield forced Chris Martin into a flying save when he nodded a Matt Varley long throw towards the far corner.
Then, Walton produced a stunning stop to keep out a close-range effort from Kidsgrove dangerman Ant Malbon from close in.
After the break Spalding fashioned a presentable chance when Barraclough expertly released Higginson, but the left winger fired high and wide from a relatively tough angle.
There was a scare for the Tulips at the other end when Harry Clayton fired an effort off the underside of the bar from a corner.
Sub Jack Wightwick added a bit of impetus to Spalding’s play and was unlucky to see his curling effort tipped away by Martin.
But the better chances kept falling to Athletic – and the hosts were indebted to a smart low save from Walton, who denied Lee Pickerill after he had danced past a few challenges.
In the closing stages it was all Spalding, as they got ball after ball into the Kidsgrove area.
Varley’s long throws took centre stage – and from one of his huge hurls Stainfield propelled a powerful header towards the corner, only for Martin to tip it away.
There was one big chance for the away side to pinch the points in the closing stages, however, with Clayton somehow firing wide from close range.
In the end a draw was fair, with the Tulips now turning their attention to a trip to Evo-Stik NPL Premier Division high-fliers Rushall Olympic in the Integro League Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm).
“We’ll give the lads that need a game 90 minutes and see if we can rest some key players,” added Frecklington.
“Jason Field and Jonny Lockie will both play 90 minutes, they need the game time and they’ll get it.
“It’ll be against good opposition as well. We still want to win the game, but our focus is obviously on coming out of that game injury-free.
“Shaw Lane are at Lincoln United on Tuesday, so they’ve got a tough one too.”
Tulips: Walton, Walker, Jackson, Varley, Stainfield, Spafford, Lemon, Whitehead, Wells, Barraclough, Higginson (Wightwick 66). Not used: Field, Lockie, Beeson, Fleming.
Attendance: 141.
