Norton United 2
Spalding United 1
Deflated Spalding United boss Pat Rayment feels that his players let the club down as they wasted a “massive opportunity” in the FA Cup on Saturday.
A late penalty from Norton’s Tom Fogg (85) sent the Tulips crashing out of the competition at the second qualifying round – the same stage they exited at last season.
Glynn Blackhurst (15) had earlier put the hosts ahead, before a Paul Taylor own goal (35) hauled the Tulips level.
It looked like Rayment’s men would hang on for a replay despite not playing anywhere near their potential, but a foul by Nathan Stainfield allowed Fogg to crush their dreams of a plum draw from the penalty spot.
A bemused Rayment said: “There was a total lack of performance from my team.
“It was a poor, poor display and they let the club down.
“It’s a massive opportunity missed for the club. I know we went out at the same stage last year, but we drew Hornchurch then – and they were a top step three side.
“One thing we knew about Norton is that they work very hard. It’s key to the way they play and the players were made fully aware of that.
“So, for my players to turn up and expect to have time on the ball just isn’t good enough. Their work ethic was way better than ours and they deserved their win.
“It’s a shame. We’ve gone from 9/10 in winning 6-0 at Loughborough to 3/10 on Saturday. I really wasn’t expecting that dip in performance.”
Overall, it was something of a day to forget for Rayment’s charges. Their performance was far removed from their mid-week demolition of top of the table (at the time) Loughborough Dynamo.
Not for the first time this season they were undone by the home side’s long ball tactics.
Instead of settling into their usual and largely successful style of playing football where it is meant to be played, on the ground, they adopted the style of their opponents with the ball spending considerable time in the air.
Defeat on the day cost the club £4,500 in prize money and the opportunity for even bigger rewards by progressing to the next round.
Throughout the game the home team ran their socks off, challenging hard at every opportunity and attacking predominantly down the wings.
It was on one such raid they took a 15th minute lead. Niall Green’s pace took him clear down the right wing and his well hit centre found the unmarked Blackhurst on the far side of the area and his stunning header flashed past a helpless and surprised Michael Duggan in the Tulips’ goal.
The Tulips thought they had equalised on 27 minutes when Andrew Tidswell was the last man in a good build-up. But his goalbound shot, after whistling past keeper Danny Roberts, was clawed from the line by defender Taylor.
The equalising goal did arrive in the 35th minute but from the unfortunate Taylor who headed an Ash Burbeary cross into his own net.
Early in the second half Mitch Griffiths took on the home defence and despatched a stinging shot, only to see the ball flash inches over the bar.
Duggan then kept the Tulips in the game with a crucial save at the foot of the post, before Spalding pushed on again following the arrival of subs Chris Hall and Tom Waumsley, with signs that the team could snatch the advantage.
Waumsley’s never-say-die challenging in the penalty area brought a couple of chances and Kern Miller’s header zipped just wide.
But all hope of a dramatic victory were ended by Norton’s late penalty.
The usually dependable Stainfield had two attempts to clear a high bouncing ball – but for once was unable to complete the task and ended up impeding Tom Winkle, allowing substitute Fogg to do the rest from the spot.
There was one chance for Spalding to level the scores, but their hopes of forcing a replay at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field were thwarted by keeper Roberts, who turned a Burbeary free kick around the post.
Tulips: Duggan, Bore, Jackson, Miller, Stainfield, Webb, Burbeary, Leary (C Jones), Tidswell, M Jones (Waumsley), Griffiths (J Thurlbourne), Not used: McKue.
Att: 125
