Spalding United manager Jimmy Dean described Halesowen Town’s 93rd minute winner as a ‘tough pill to take’.
The Tulips were 1-0 up with 15 minutes to go against the side in the Southern League Premier Central play off picture on Saturday.
But they came away with nothing despite a good performance.
“When you’re in that position you’ve got to expect to get something out of the game really,” said Dean. “I can’t really fault the players for what they’ve put in.
“They’ve committed everything against what are a really good, well drilled side who move the ball really well.”
The first opening in front of over 1,000 in Halesowen went Spalding’s way as Connor Tomlinson just failed to connect with Khanya Leshabela’s ball across.
The latter losing the ball just moments later led to McKauley Manning being put through on goal with keeper Tony Breedon bringing the attacker down in the area.
After being shown a yellow card, he saved the resulting penalty by Jordan Ponticelli with his legs.
Just two minutes later Spalding took a 1-0 lead as Leshabela played a clever ball to the back post where Tomlinson volleyed home.
The home side pushed forward but generally struck shots straight at Breedon, including when breaking four on one on the counter from a Tulips corner.
Bart Cybulski had the chance to give Spalding a great start to the second half but he kicked thin air after the centre by Lewis Hilliard.
The home side had more of the ball but struggled to create chances.
It was from long range they found the breakthrough as Ponticelli’s low shot from 20 yards out just had enough to beat Breedon with 13 minutes remaining.
The 93rd minute winner came from almost nothing. A hopeful ball forward was chested away from defender Sam Cartwright and then volleyed brilliantly past Breedon.
“The second goal epitomises why I say we need to be more street smart,” Dean told the club’s You Tube channel. “We defended it really well to the corner, but rather than reacting we should be anticipating where that ball is going to go.
“With the first goal maybe we could have closed it down quicker.
“Those are the little details that cost us.
“Halesowen had some good chances first half but second half they didn’t have golden opportunities.
“They took what they did create really well, it’s two fantastic finishes.
“It’s a tough pill to take.
“We can’t be too down though. We’re not far away and we’ve just got to keep working hard to remove.
“At moments we played some good football, though not as much as I’d want as we didn’t have enough of the ball.
“Ultimately we’ve been beaten by a good side and that’s where we need to get to now and we will get there.”
Next up this Saturday is another trip to the West Midlands, this time to fourth placed Stratford.
“It’s an exceptionally difficult game against a side in the play off but that’s where we’re aspiring to,” said Dean, who this week signed three of the players who helped him to promotion with Peterborough Sports.
The Tulips gave a debut to defender Nathan Fox against Halesowen who has been signed for an undisclosed fee from AFC Telford.
Also signing on an undisclosed fee is Dan Lawlor, while Dion Sembie-Ferris, also a midfielder, has come in after most recently being at Scunthorpe United.
Heading away from the Sir Halley are defender Sam Warburton and forward Tyler Winters.
Both were signed by former manager Elliot Sandy in March 2023 and played roles in leading the Tulips to promotion last season.
A spokesman for the club said: “We would like to thank Sam and Tyler for their time with the club and wish them all the best for the future.”
Tulips: Breedon, Brown, Fox, Dawes, Cartwright, Walker, Freeman, Leshabela, Cybulski, Hilliard, Tomlinson. Subs: Sani, Chettle, Stainfield, Ngandu, Nyahwema.
Attendance: 1,035.
