Spalding United 3
Wellingborough Town 2
Two goals in the final five minutes ensured that Spalding United dodged a potential Emirates FA Cup banana skin on Saturday as they outgunned Wellingborough Town 3-2.
In what was a very even cup clash at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, Leon Mettam lashed the Tulips ahead three minutes before half-time.
Wellingborough had plenty of chances, though, and quickly levelled when Adam Speight fired home in the final minute of the first period.
Giuseppe Freitas then gave the Doughboys a shock lead from the penalty spot 17 minutes from time, following an alleged foul by keeper Michael Duggan.
However, Gary King jumped off the bench to level five minutes from time following a sweeping move, setting the stage for Danny Brooks to clinch it for Spalding with a controversial penalty in the 88th minute.
Tulips boss Chris Rawlinson, who celebrated his first cup win in any competition since the 2016/17 season, was pleased to end the club’s hoodoo in knockout competition.
He was also full of praise for opponents Wellingborough and felt that both penalties in the game were soft.
“I thought we were going to be on the receiving end of an upset,” admitted Rawlinson. “It felt like Wisbech Town last season all over again.
“Credit to Wellingborough, they looked a good side and caused us problems. I’ll be honest, we probably should have taken a few more of our chances in the first half.
“But they caused us problems in the second half, we weren’t tight enough in midfield.
“I’m not sure it was a penalty, I think Duggy tipped the ball. I’ve seen them given, but it did look like a soft one.
“After that we made a couple of changes and we still flattered to deceive, but fair play to Gary King – he’s got a point to prove after he’d been left out.
“He’s been getting himself a bit fitter and credit to him, it was a great finish to cap what was a great move.
“As for our penalty, I’m not sure either. I think it was a foul, but I’m not 100 per cent convinced that it was inside the box.
“These are the sort of results that can kick-start your season. After two decent draws in the league, a win in the FA Cup is exactly what we needed.
“We all know that these games against Step Five teams are difficult, they are further into their season than we are. The UCL is a good standard and it’s hard to play teams from it this early.
“But we’ve beaten them and, although I’m not massively pleased with the performance, I’m pleased with the result and we move on to the next round.”
Higher-graded Spalding were hot favourites to progress from the Preliminary Round clash, but it was Wellingborough who started on the front foot.
They almost went ahead inside 60 seconds when James Gillard raced clear and forced a smart save from the well-positioned Duggan.
At the other end, Jordan Lemon raced down the left and crossed for George Zuerner, but the ball was slightly behind him and his headed effort missed the target.
But it was the Doughboys who fashioned the better openings, with the dangerous Freitas at the centre of much of their good work.
He nodded a presentable opening wide at the back post, before cutting in from the right and teeing up the also impressive Lloyd Buckby, who curled a low effort just wide from the edge of the box.
If those chances were good, Mettam then spurned two great openings for the hosts.
He blazed the first over after a clever cutback from strike partner Tom Siddons, before tamely lobbing the second straight at the keeper (via a deflection) after racing onto a long ball.
But Mettam, one of non-league’s most feared finishers, didn’t need asking three times. He duly opened the scoring with a lethal volleyed finish following a high ball into the box and a flick on from Siddons.
However, that didn’t deter the visitors and Duggan was forced to make a stellar save to tip Speight’s goal-bound header wide of the post.
There was no denying the striker moments later as he latched onto a ball into the box to fire home clinically from the left side of the box.
After the interval Wellingborough came within a whisker of going ahead when Buckby curled a super effort from distance onto the crossbar.
They did get their noses in front 15 minutes from time when Dan Mortimer got in on the left and dinked the ball over Duggan, who was adjudged to have taken him out for a penalty. Freitas stepped up and confidently slotted his spot-kick into the bottom corner.
That prompted Rawlinson to thrown on King and young striker Luke White in a bid to save the day.
King made an instant impact as he crossed for Siddons to flick an effort over, before levelling the scores with a fine finish from a James Hugo delivery on 85 minutes.
Spalding weren’t done there and re-took the lead from the penalty spot two minutes from time. It was Brooks who converted, drilling home left-footed via the inside of the post.
There was still time for Duggan to make a sprawling added-time save from Gillard, but Spalding held onto their advantage to book their place in the next round.
Tulips: Duggan, Marshall (King 74), Hugo, Zuerner (White 76), Humble, Spafford, Lemon, Brooks, Siddons, Mettam (Lockie 68), Davison. Not used: Floyd.
Attendance: 125.
Sponsors’ MOTM: Davison.
