Belper Town 1
Spalding United 2
By RAY TUCKER
Skipper Nathan Stainfield was the hero of the night for table-topping Spalding United with a late winning goal at Belper’s Marston’s Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Stainfield’s 81st minute strike, a trademark far post header from an Andy Wright corner, ensured his side’s unbeaten start to the season remained intact and also the Tulips place at the top of Evo-Stik League NPL First Division South.
Once again the Tulips work ethic was superb, not quite as fluent as at Market Drayton a few days earlier, but none-the-less totally effect to keep a lively Belper side under control.
The Tulips took the lead on 35 minutes, albeit thanks to an own goal by home skipper Eric Graves who turned in a stinging low driven 20-yard free kick by Nathan Whitehead just inside a near post.
But just four minutes later the scores were level with Alex Steadman slotting in a penalty conceded by Neal Spafford in a crowded area following a free kick.
Working well from back to front, the Tulips were pretty much in control during the opening half, Cenk Acar posing thee home defence a few problems with his probing right side runs.
A good move between Acar, Andy Wright and Bradley Wells opened thee home defence after just five minutes but Wright’s final shot was blocked and consequently cleared.
Minutes later Matt Varley’s long throw in the home area was scrambled away, while another penetrative left side break involving four players unfortunately did not provide the required finish.
At the other end, keeper Michael Duggan watched Graves’ shot from a distance curl wide of his far post as Belper threatened. With a goal for either team in the latter stages the game was at stalemate at the interval.
Early in the second half man-of-the-match Stainfield pulled out a superb saving header to prevent the home team taking the lead, but the better opportunities were coming at the other end of the pitch.
In quick succession Varley and Acar, following a sharp break by Wells, fired over the bar. Wells himself, who was posing problems inside the area, was denied a blatant penalty when a shirt tugging defender sent him sprawling. But the referee was not interested in the appeals.
Duggan was well positioned to smother another shot from Jermaine Hollis, but play quickly switched back to the other end where Sam Downey was within a whisker of connecting with Wells’ defence splitting cross.
The Tulips were worthy of the lead when Stainfield’s header was driven home and the side were just inches away from extending the advantage five minutes from time when Whitehead, in a horizontal pose, sent a bullet-like header from a Wright cross inches wide of Danny Haystead’s goal.
Tulips chief Dave Frecklington said: “It’s another massive three points away from home. I can’t praise the lads enough at the moment.”
Tulips: Duggan, Lemon, Walker, Varley, Stainfield, Spafford, Acar (Lockie 90), Whitehead, Wells, Downey, Wright. Not used: Cullingworth, Vince.
MOTM: Stainfield.
Attendace: 172
