Spalding United 2 Deeping Rangers 1
A late screamer from Liam Marshall fired Spalding United to a 2-1 Emirates FA Cup victory over Deeping Rangers on Saturday.
Left-back Marshall crashed home the winner 13 minutes from time at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field to set up a tasty derby with Stamford in the next round.
Dylan Edge had earlier put the Tulips ahead on 24 minutes when he finished off an attack that saw Toby Hilliard force two saves from Rangers keeper Dan Swan.
However, former Manchester United keeper Luke Steele – who plays as as striker for Deeping – hauled the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division North side level from the penalty spot just past the hour.
But Marshall had the last word, lashing home from the edge of the box to put Brett Whaley’s side into the next round.
“A win is a win,” said the Spalding boss. “I think we looked very rusty on the day – like a side that had just come out of pre-season.
“It was a bit of a wake up call for us, if I’m honest.
“We didn’t really look like a team on the day, more a group of talented individuals.
“But the positive thing is that we worked and scrapped to get the win, which is all that matters at the end of the day.
“You could see that Deeping had started their competitive games and they looked much sharper than us.
“But I’m glad that we had this kind of performance now – and that we came through it unscathed.
“There are lots of things we can take from the performance and build on for the start of the league campaign.
“We did have lots of chances early in the game, though. I think it would have been a different match if we’d taken a few of them.
“Hopefully we’ll now be match ready and we’ll see a better performance in the next game.”
Tulips: Duggan, Hart, Marshall, Clifton, Stainfield, Cartwright, Jones, Broccoli (Draper 84), Hilliard, O’Brien (Rolt 62), Edge (Sparrow 64). Not used: Withers, Floyd, George, Sandy.
Attendance: 226.
