CHASETOWN 2
SPALDING UTD 1
Spalding United’s woeful record in cup competitions continued in Staffordshire on Saturday when they were booted out of the Buildbase FA Trophy by Chasetown – although a few wood shavings prevented them from taking the first qualifying round game to a replay.
As the game entered added time, Tulips’ man-of-the-match Jordan Lemon watched on in agony as his dipping shot from the edge of the area clipped the top of the home bar, writes RAY TUCKER.
A month earlier, Spalding had beaten the Scholars 2-0 in an hotly contested Evo-Stik NPL First South Division fixture at the Sir Halley Stewart Field.
Saturday’s Trophy clash offered much of the same, but this time the Tulips playing out the final 20 minutes a man down following the sending off of Jamie Jackson for two bookable offences.
Spalding began proceedings confidently against a stiff breeze blowing straight down the pitch and Paul Walker, moving up from his new central defensive position covering for the injured Neal Spafford, headed inches over the home bar from the second of two consecutive Lee Beeson corners.
But it was the lively home side who went ahead on 14 minutes with Muzzy Nduna afforded a free header from Chris Baker’s cross from the right side corner flag.
And the Tulips spent much time after this defending for all of their worth, with goalkeeper Michael Duggan pulling off two tremendous saves to keep his side in contention.
However, the scores were level three minutes before the interval. Gary King took advantage of a rare slip in the home defence to slot the ball past the advancing Curtis Pond.
Spalding were chasing the game again two minutes later when Danny Cocks rose above the defence to head in a long throw by Tom Winkle.
With the breezy conditions at their backs after the break, the Tulips worked hard to demand a greater share of the attacking play.
On the hour Jackson worked valuable space to carve out a good scoring opportunity, but King failed to make firm contact with the ball.
Another good opportunity was wasted minutes later, but the Tulips should have been awarded a penalty in the 65th minute when King, hot footing it into the home area, virtually had the shirt torn from his back by a defender as he advanced towards the target.
He managed to stay on his feet when, perhaps, he should have gone down and referee Martin Beard ignored the justified penalty appeals.
That ensured Spalding’s interest in all cup competitions is now over, having already exited the Emirates FA Cup, Lincs FA Senior Cup and Integro League Cup.
Boss Chris Rawlinson said: “We were very poor for the first 20 minutes, but credit to Michael Duggan for keeping us in it.
“We fell behind, but a nice finish from Gary King got us back into the game. However, it was criminal to concede another goal from a long throw.
“Ill-discipline aside in the second half, I thought we were value for a replay.
“We really should have had a penalty and I can understand why they were unhappy, but our behaviour wasn’t good enough.”
Tulips: Duggan, Fixter (Millington 46), A Jackson, Marshall (Maddison 80), Humble, Walker, Lemon, Beeson, J Jackson, King (Lockie 64), Acar. Not used: Smith.
MOTM: Jordan Lemon.
Attendance: 144.
