Sheffield FC 2
Spalding United 2
A debut stunner from Charley Sanders wasn’t enough to earn the Tulips a third Evo-Stik League First Division South win on the spin on Tuesday night.
Josh Moreman’s 17th-minute goal gave the Tulips a deserved 1-0 half time lead in the steel city, before Sanders – signed from Wisbech Town on Monday – made his mark (70).
The striker jumped off the bench to fire Pat Rayment’s side 2-0 ahead midway through the half with a piece of individual brilliance.
However, Matt Roney won and converted a 78th-minute penalty to give Sheffield hope, before Ben Turner’s last-gasp header (87) made it 2-2.
Tulips boss Pat Rayment felt the result was fair, admitting that his side were really hanging on at the end.
He said: “I’m pretty gutted we didn’t hold on to the three points. It’s plain and simple, we shot ourselves in the foot.
“We deserved to be 1-0 up at half-time, then Charley scored a wonder-goal to put us clear.
“They looked dead and buried at that stage.
“But we just couldn’t hold on to the ball and invited them to pile on the pressure.
“They duly obliged – and by the end we are left thankful for a point.
“It’s disappointing, but this is a tough place to come. We got nothing here last year, so I’m viewing it as a good point gained.”
Unbeaten with two wins and two draws from their first four league games, Spalding now turn their attention to Saturday’s FA Cup preliminary round clash at East Midlands Counties League
Premier Division side Radford (3pm).
Should the Tulips progress in Nottinghamshire, they’ll face a tough home tie against Nantwich Town in the first round qualifying stage on September 12.
Spalding are back in league action on Bank Holiday Monday, when they visit Gresley (3pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Griffiths, Jackson, Walker, Spafford, Nuttell, Barlow (Rawdon), Murphy (Millson), Frew (Sanders), Lawlor, Moreman. Not used: Waumsley, Zuerner.
