Spalding United 1
Gresley 1
(Gresley win 4-3 on penalties)
Chris Rawlinson admitted that he was comfortable with Spalding United’s performance despite seeing his side crash out of the Integro League Cup to Gresley 4-3 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
Lewis Millington fired the Tulips ahead with a clinical finish midway through the first half at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Tuesday night – and they looked in control until Ryan Robbins came off the bench midway through the second half.
The ex-Stamford striker missed two big chances before levelling with a fine individual goal in the 90th minute, forcing a penalty shoot-out.
Jordan Lemon, Jack Fixter and Scott Flloyd all saw spot-kicks saved by Callum Hawkins, setting the stage for Louis Danquah to send Gresley through.
Young keeper Alex Smith, one of several under-21 players given a chance by Rawlinson on the night, made two top saves in shoot-out, while Jamie Jackson, Cenk Acar and Paul Walker netted.
Rawlinson said: “I could have not used the under-21 players and maybe we’d have won the game, but the game was about seeing what I’ve got and what players can play at this standard.
“They chose to bring their big names off the bench, which is their prerogative.
“Regardless, we should have won the game. But that (conceding a late goal) can always happen. We could have dealt with it better, but maybe that was a bit of inexperience on our part.
“I’m more pleased with the performance. The league and the FA Trophy are far more important to us as a club. Of course, we want to win every game, but I wanted to see what we could get out of it.
“Football-wise, we played some of our best stuff in a while and we created lots of chances. As long as we start taking chances, I’m comfortable with this result moving forward.
“I’ve seen enough to think we’ll be OK.”
The Tulips had a decent early opening when Jordan Lemon raced into the penalty area, but he lobbed just over.
In-form Tulips frontman Jamie Jackson went closer with a near-post volley that whistled just wide, before they broke the deadlock on 26 minutes.
A good run and cross from Jonny Lockie was almost finished by Lemon, but youngster Millington was on-hand to calmly slot home his first senior goal at the back post.
It should have been 2-0 minutes later as Jamie Jackson intercepted a pass and raced clear one-on-one, but he flicked his effort wide of the near post.
The same player had an even better chance to double the home lead minutes before the break, but somehow missed at the near post from close in.
Gresley fired a warning shot early in the second period when Jeremiah Dasaolo curled a decent effort just wide.
That seemed to wake Spalding up and some great trickery from Jordan Neil forced a smart save from Callum Hawkins, before the rebound smashed into Lockie and went wide.
Gresley carried more of a threat when Robbins came off the bench – and he was within a whisker of levelling 18 minutes from time with an angled drive that just missed the far corner.
Hitman Robbins then went even closer, flashing an effort on his weaker right foot just wide of the far post after being afforded plenty of space.
With five minutes remaining Cenk Acar somehow fired over from close in after an inviting cross from Scott Flloyd – and it was to prove costly.
Dangerman Robbins bulldozed his way through the Spalding defence before lashing home a fine leveller in the 90th minute, forcing the tie into penalties.
Successful spot-kicks from Thomas Manship, Jon Stevenson, Robbins and Danquah then booked the visitors a place in the next round, while Spalding were left to reflect on a shoot-out defeat in the competition for the fourth year on the spin.
Tulips: Smith, Fixter, A Jackson, Lemon, Humble, Walker, Millington (Flloyd 80), Acar, J Jackson, Lockie (Clarke 59), Neil (Chipamaunga 65). Not used: Duggan.
Sponsors’ MOTM: Jamie Jackson.
Attendance: 107.
