Leek Town 1
Spalding United 1
A stunning Jamie Thurlbourne free kick earned Spalding United a potentially vital point at Evo-Stik League First Division South play-off rivals Leek Town on Saturday.
Left-sider Thurlbourne picked out the top corner from fully 25 yards early in the second half at Harrison Park, cancelling out Karl Espley’s 45th-minute opener.
Although pleased with a point, Spalding boss Pat Rayment does reckon that his side should have taken advantage of a second-placed Leek side that had played five games in ten days.
He said: “Getting at least a point was very important for us in the play-off race on what was a very difficult pitch.
“A draw was probably fair. Their goal was disappointing from our point of view, while Jamie’s free kick was absolutely sensational.
“The only disappointing thing for me is that they looked like a side that had played a lot of games. We had a big chance to beat them, but just didn’t take it.
“We simply didn’t do enough to merit three points, which is a shame.”
It was a tremendous encounter between two teams hell bent on gaining promotion to the Premier Division for next season. But although highly competitive, neither keeper had a save to make throughout the game, writes RAY TUCKER.
The best of the early exchanges came from the Tulips. Thurlbourne’s third minute free kick was headed down by Matt Nolan to Tom Waumsley, but his shot sailed over the home bar.
Mid-way through the half the Tulips’ leading scorer was again in the firing line – but again failed to test keeper James Martin.
Both teams were cancelling each other out as play continually switched from end to end. A blank scoreline certainly looked likely as the half drew to a close.
However, the Tulips conceded a free kick just outside a top angle of the penalty area and Jordan Johnson’s driven kick to the far side of the area was confidently converted in added time by Karl Espley.
Spalding were near to an early second half leveller as Thurlbourne’s free kick was knocked back by Dan Banister to find Jack McGovern, but his header was just the wrong side of the woodwork.
However, after ten minutes of play came Thurlbourne’s superb free kick, which flashed over the wall and into a top corner to leave keeper Martin rooted to the spot.
Lee Beeson, who was introduced to the action on 68 minutes, was full of running and produced one well judged lob which just missed a top angle. The pace of the game continued to the final whistle, but neither side could find a winner – with a draw the correct result.
See page 39 for more on the play-off race.
Tulips: Duggan, Griffiths, Jackson, Hall, Leary, Webb, Banister, McGovern, Waumsley, Nolan (Vieira 84), J Thurlbourne (Beeson 68). Not used: Ebdon, Pycock.
MOTM: Hall.
Attendance: 201.
