Spalding United 0
Tividale 2
Pat Rayment vowed to dip into the transfer market after seeing his Spalding United side lose their 15-game Evo-Stik League First Division South unbeaten streak against Tividale on Saturday.
Goals in each half from Jordan Archer (24) and Richard Huckfield (79) earned the visitors a deserved success at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field – and to make matters worse, Spalding saw Adam Jackson sent off midway from the second period.
The Tulips had plenty of chances, but never really showed any glimpses of their best form as they slipped to a first loss on home soil since Leek Town dumped them out of the FA Trophy way back in November.
A downbeat Rayment branded his team “toothless”- and admitted that he’ll be forced to bring fresh faces in this week in a bid to revitalise his title-chasing charges.
The Spalding supremo said: “That was poor from us, very poor. We let ourselves down big time.
“They got the goal and killed the game from their point of view – as we weren’t good enough to break them down.
“We had chances again, but that’s two games on the bounce that we haven’t been able to put the ball into the back of the net.
“I’m going to have to do something about… and I will.
“Words fail me a little bit. We haven’t been playing well in the last three or four games – and I don’t know why. I don’t know if some of the lads in the dressing room already think they are over the line.
“We’ve got to be prepared for this kind of game. Listening to them (the Tividale players) in the dressing room, you’d think they’ve won the FA Cup.
“They deserved it, we weren’t good enough. We missed chances at vital times, but that shouldn’t cover over how badly we played.
“On the red card, whenever you’re running through a player, you’re running the risk. If you go for the ball and it’s not there, that can happen.
“The red card had no bearing on the game, though. I think that if we’d played until 9pm we’d not have scored. We’ve got serious problems – because we can’t put the ball in the net.
“There will be some movement this week in the transfer market. I’ve got to do something about it, we’re just not good enough up front. We’re toothless.
“But listen, we’ll dust ourselves down. That’s our first league loss in 15 – but we’ll get back on the horse and go another 15. We’re capable of doing it.
“I can handle a defeat, but it’s the manner of this one that hurts.”
It was never going to be a day for eye-catching football at the Sir Halley, with the surface incredibly heavy after the recent inclement weather.
Still, the Tulips started pretty well and went close when Ryan Oliver burst down the left and directed a cross towards Andrew Tidswell – only for Zach Foster to direct the ball just past his own post.
Tidswell then flashed a 20-yard drive just past the post after neat set-up play from Mitch Griffiths, before the visitors shocked the home crowd with a shock opener.
Following a set piece, Tividale striker Archer expertly directed an acrobatic volley into the bottom corner of Michael Duggan’s goal from just inside the area.
Going behind galvanised the hosts, who almost hit back immediately when Tidswell fired home a near-post effort. Unfortunately for Rayment’s side, the offside flag was up.
Skipper Michael Leary then poked wide from close range after running onto an Oliver header, before Jamie Thurlbourne’s drive from just inside the box was tipped away by Tividale keeper Charlie Price.
There was an ever better chance for Spalding to level moments later when Thurlbourne’s free kick picked out Leary some six yards out, but he could only head straight at Price. If the right back had directed the ball anywhere else, he would surely have scored.
At the other end, Archer had a fine opportunity to double his tally when he got in behind the Tulips defence, but lobbed the ball well wide of the target.
There was still time in the first period for Tidswell to capitalise on a fluffed clearance from Price, but he volleyed wide of the gaping goal from fully 35 yards.
Spalding didn’t create quite as much in the second period, but did have another goal ruled out for offside when Leary headed Jackson’s cross into the corner.
Amazingly, right back Leary was involved yet again just after the hour when he failed to turn home a rebound following a Nathan Stanfield header that was spilled by Price.
Then came the flashpoint of the contest, with Jackson given a straight red card for what looked a late, rather than nasty, tackle 20 minutes from time.
Tividale took full advantage of their numerical advantage and added a second 11 minutes from time when Huckfield turned the ball home from close range after Duggan had failed to hold onto a cross.
The defeat sees the Tulips drop to sixth, but they are still well placed ahead of what promises to be an exciting game at title rivals Mickleover Sports next Saturday (3pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Leary, Jackson, Stevens, Stainfield, Nuttell, Griffiths (McGovern 78), Hall, Tidswell (Webb 65), Oliver (Waumsley 53), J Thurlbourne.
Attendance: 160
Sponsors’ MOTM: Stevens
Saturday’s results
Brigg Town 1 Norton United 7; Carlton Town 0 Mickleover Sports 3; Goole AFC 1 Newcastle Town 2; Kidsgrove Athletic 2 Sutton Coldfield Town 0; Lincoln United 0 Leek Town 0; Market Drayton Town 5 Coalville Town 3; Rainworth Miners Welfare 0 Gresley FC 1; Romulus 3 Stocksbridge Park Steels 2; Spalding United 0 Tividale 2; Stafford Rangers 1 Loughborough Dynamo 1.
