Sporting Khalsa 1
Sporting United 1
Boss Pat Rayment bemoaned eight “amusing” minutes of added time as Spalding United were cruelly pegged back in The Emirates FA Cup on Saturday.
The Tulips looked set to book themselves a guaranteed place in the fourth qualifying round when Josh Moreman fired them ahead after just 58 seconds at Sporting Khalsa.
They held that lead all the way up until the final kick of the game, when David Meese converted a last-gasp penalty following a foul from keeper Michael Duggan.
That forced tonight’s (Tuesday night) replay, with the winners to face either FC United of Manchester or Buxton at home on October 24. Rayment had some harsh words for the referee, but was still happy enough with the draw.
“How did the referee find eight minutes of added time?” said the Spalding supremo. “It’s amusing, really.
“I think he was the only one out there enjoying the game, maybe he wanted to play on all day.
“I’ve got no complaints about the draw or the penalty, but the referee has had a real shocker if I’m honest.
“My team had lumps kicked out of them. We didn’t play as well as we can do, but we’ve succeeded in getting them back to our place.
“We matched them, but our football was very poor.
“We’ll be favourites to win the replay, but this is the FA Cup – nothing is a given. One thing is for sure, they’ll not sit back and let us play.
“We can have no excuses, we’ve done the hard work and got them back to our place. They’ve got a horrible long journey and I understand they have a few key players suspended.
“The draw for the next round is a good one, but we can’t look past Khalsa, it’s going to be tough.”
The two goals apart, the game, hotly contested throughout, produced few out and out scoring opportunities.
The home team vigorously challenged for the ball at every opportunity and Paul Walker, Moreman and Mitch Griffiths have the scars to substantiate this, but once again the Tulips’ defence was equal to everything thrown at them.
Moreman’s early goal resulted from a crisp passing sequence between Nialle Rodney and Dan Banister, with the winger taking the final pass cleanly and out sprinting his marker to fire the ball hard and low into the far corner of goalkeeper Pemberton’s net.
Sporting turned the screws for a while and were within inches of equalising when Meese pounced on a deflected effort by Craig Bannister and shot just wide of a post.
The game developed into an out-and-out midfield battle and honours were generally even – although Marvin Nisbett had a good effort palmed away by Duggan and James Pemberton denied Banister at the other end.
The second half followed a similar pattern, with play constantly flowing from end to end – but still void of any addition to the scoreline.
Tom Waumsley missed a good opportunity for the Tulips on 58 minutes following a neat pass by Rodney.
As the clock ticked away the Tulips looked the more likely victors as Sporting gained little reward against a steadfast defence. But their determination finally bore fruit in the time added on by referee Daniel Middleton as Meese fired home the latest of penalty kicks.
Follow Andrew_Clucas on Twitter for live updates from tonight’s replay.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, Jackson, Spafford, Stainfield, Murphy, Banister, Millson, Waumsley (Watson 87), Nialle Rodney (Griffiths 58), Moreman (Lawlor 89). Not used: Lockie, Hussey.
MOTM: Stainfield.
Attendance: 425
