Spalding United 1
AFC Mansfield 1
George Zuerner’s second-half effort secured Spalding United a 1-1 draw with AFC Mansfield on Tuesday night to make it two draws from as many Evo-Stik East League games this season.
A 42nd-minute goal from striker Kieran Wells – who is the brother of former Tulips favourite Bradley Wells – put the visitors into a 1-0 half-time lead that they just about deserved.
But midfielder Zuerner followed up his goal on the opening day by jumping off the bench to net a 58th-minute leveller at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
Danny Brooks almost won it for Chris Rawlinson’s side when he hit the woodwork with a stunning strike late on, but they were forced to settle for a share of the spoils.
Rawlinson admitted that a draw was perhaps fair, but felt his side were in the ascendancy at times.
“I thought we conceded a very poor goal,” said the Tulips chief. “But, in fairness, they were always a threat in the first half.
“After the break we were in the ascendancy and created plenty of chances, but you could also say that Mansfield had their moments too.
“Danny Brooks almost won it for us with an incredible effort from the halfway line – fair play to him for trying. It was a stunning effort.
“We had numerous chances, which is certainly a big change from last season.
“It’s encouraging that we’ve gone unbeaten in the first two matches and it’s a decent platform for us to build upon.
“We need to win our next game to make it a good start. If we go and lose the next one, then maybe it doesn’t look as good.
“I’ve seen lots of good things from the lads in the first two games and I do feel that we’ll be very competitive this season.”
It was an open start at the Sir Halley, with both sides creating chances. Spalding’s Brooks had a couple of early attempts, while Kieran Wells had three half-chances.
Visiting keeper Jason White was then called into action to deny Leon Mettam, before Tom Siddons and Ben Davison both went close for the Tulips.
However, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock just three minutes before the break when ex-Stamford striker Kieran Wells struck.
That goal was cancelled out 13 minutes into the second period by Zuerner, who was on as a half-time substitute.
The ex-Holbeach United midfielder netted a header to make it two goals from as many league games this season.
Keeper Duggan was forced into a smart stop before Spalding almost pinched all three points in stoppage time, but Brooks saw his audacious effort from way out come back off the bar.
Tulips: Duggan, Floyd, Hugo, Fixter (Zuerner), Humble, Spafford, Lemon, Brooks, Siddons (White), Mettam (Lockie), Davison. Not used: King, Marshall.
Attendance: 148.
RESULTS
Frickley Athletic 2 Marske United 1; Gresley 3 Stocksbridge Park Steels 3; Morpeth Town 2 Brighouse Town 1; Ossett United 4 Cleethorpes Town 0; Pickering Town 0 Pontefract Collieries 1; Sheffield FC 3 Tadcaster Albion 4; Spalding United 1 AFC Mansfield 1; Stamford 1 Loughborough Dynamo 0.
