Newcastle Town 0
Spalding United 1
Neal Spafford’s last-gasp winner helped Spalding United end two unwanted streaks on Saturday.
The defender’s 89th-minute header was enough to earn the Tulips a 1-0 victory over hosts Newcastle Town to end a run of eight Evo-Stik League First Division South games without a win.
It was also Spalding’s first three-point haul away from the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field since way back on November 14 when they beat Leek Town 3-0 in Marcus Ebdon’s first away game as boss.
Saturday’s penultimate game of the season at The M Club Stadium looked destined for a goalless stalemate until Spafford’s late strike.
The home goal area was packed with players for Dan Lawlor’s corner kick and the ball twice caught the woodwork before the central defender headed firmly home via the far post to set up the celebrations.
At times the game, keenly contested throughout, appeared as it was, a typical end of season affair between two evenly matches sides.
But there was no shortage of some quality football. The game was also enhanced by a team of match officials who contributed greatly.
Play throughout was from end-to-end. Tulips goalkeeper Michael Duggan twice denied the hosts in the early stages with saves from Neville Thompson and Harry Clayton.
At the other end, Dave Parton saved well from Sam Murphy as the Tulips looked to seize the initiative.
The home keeper was also equal to Dan Banister’s chip mid-way through the first half and five minutes before the interval he did well to keep out Tom Waumsley’s firm strike.
There was much of the same in the second half with both keepers fully involved.
On 55 minutes Tulips’ skipper Nathan Stainfield – who was nominated for man-of-the-match by referee Alan Clayton – saw his shot deflected for a corner and Lawlor’s following kick was confidently dealt with by Parton.
The chances kept on coming as Duggan again saved well from Thompson and James Garlic as the stalemate continued.
But, with the clock showing 89 minutes, Spafford out -jumped the pack to secure the points for the Tulips.
The game was far from over as the game went into injury time, though, with the hosts piling on the pressure.
However, the Tulips’ defensive qualities won the day and they held on for a morale-boosting three points.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Spafford, Stainfield, Murphy, Banister, Lawlor, Eason (Sanders 71), Waumsley, Curtis. Not used: Lockie, Kadar, Butland, Talbot.
MOTM: Nathan Stainfield.
Attendance: 143.
RESULTS (Saturday)
Evo-Stik League Division One South: Belper 2 Market Drayton 0; Carlton 1 Coalville 1; Chasetown 3 Rugby Town 1; Daventry Town 0 Gresley 7; Leek 3 Tividale 1; Loughborough Dynamo 1 Stocksbridge PS 5; Newcastle Town 0 Spalding Utd 1; Romulus 1 Lincoln Utd 2; Shaw Lane Aquaforce 2 Kidsgrove Ath 2; Sheffield FC 2 Goole 1; Stafford 0 Basford Utd 0.
FIXTURES
Tuesday (7.45pm): Chasetown v Stocksbridge PS; Daventry Town v Belper Town; Goole v Leek Town; Lincoln Utd v Rugby Town; Market Drayton v Sheffield FC; SL Aquaforce v Tividale.
Saturday (3pm): Basford Utd v Romulus; Coalville Town v Stafford Rangers; Goole AFC v Newcastle Town; Gresley v Loughborough Dyn; Kidsgrove Athletic v Carlton Town; Lincoln Utd v Chasetown; Market Drayton v Daventry Town; Rugby Town v Shaw Lane Aquaforce; Spalding Utd v Leek Town; Stocksbridge PS v Belper Town; Tividale v Sheffield FC.
