A second-half strike from Matt Rose earned Spalding United Reserves an underwhelming 1-1 draw at Whittley Athletic Reserves on Saturday.
Despite coming from a goal down to grab a point in the ChromaSport PDFL Division One clash, The Tulips were left disappointed that they couldn’t turn their overwhelming posession into three points.
It was smash and grab for Whittlesey in the first half, as Rob Speechley scored on the half-hour from close range following a corner. It was their only shot of the half.
But despite their control, the only moment worth reporting from the visitors came from a double effort from Rose when the sides were level.
His initial effort was blocked by the keeper and the rebound flew over. Unlike this move, the rest of their play lacked tempo or a change in pace.
The longer the second half went on, the more resilient the hosts became as they looked to sniff out the win.
Spalding’s possession was as equally as dominant as the first half, but their efforts on goal as equally dire.
There was a troubling moment for Spalding when Ash Elderkin had to make a smart double save on his goalline. It was perhaps the only time he touched the ball all half.
Moments later Jonny Lockie appeared to have hauled Spalding level, but the Whittlesey keeper succeeded in his efforts to claw the goal-bound effort off the line.
Rose finally drew the sides level when he thumped home a corner with his head. Whittlesey slowed the game right down to deny Spalding the opportunity to build any momentum and the Spalding dug-out was furious at the final whistle with the lack of time added on for stoppages.
The draw sees them slip to sixth in the table.
Spalding United Reserves: Elderkin, Phillips (Haw), Elderkin (c), Nichols, Chilvers (Holland), Mroczka, Rose, Farrell, McGuire (Klos), Lockie, Wilson.
