BEDWORTH UTD 2
SPALDING UTD 3
For the second time in as many days Spalding United turned in a stellar performance to dent the progress of Bedworth United’s push for promotion from Evo-Stik NPL First Division South.
Saturday saw the Tulips repeat the fluent style which earned a tremendous 8-1 victory at Gresley the previous Thursday evening to complete the double over their Warwickshire hosts, although having to come from behind to take all three points.
Ben Davison (32 minutes), Danny Brooks (penalty 38) and substitute Jonny Lockie (63) – with his first touch of the ball after replacing the impressive Cenk Acar – were on the mark for the
Tulips after the home team had broken the deadlock with a 24th-minute strike by Kyle Minto.
The game, however, had its downside with two home club supporters escorted from the ground after shouting offensive comments to Spalding’s Kern Miller and the home team’s Iyseden Christie.
It was an unsavoury episode which resulted in play being held up and referee Andrew Ellis initiating a total of 15 minutes of added time.
Bedworth scored their second goal in the 12th minute of this extended period courtesy of an Alex Troke penalty, but the final whistle was blown straight after the restart.
Both goals were under early pressure, with Michael Duggan saving at point-blank range from Luke Keen, and at the other end Daniel Crane parried a long throw by James Hugo and reacted swiftly to gather the ball and clear his area.
Minutes later Brooks blasted the ball over the home bar after connecting with a neat flick on by Acar. Conor Marshall had a good effort go just wide, before Bedworth grabbed the lead following a total defensive mix-up which left Minto with an easy conversion.
However, it brought an immediate response from the Tulips with another deep throw by Hugo which found the head of Davison to turn in the ball at the near post.
With pressure maintained in the home half, the Tulips got their noses in front just six minutes later. Acar went on one of his ducking and weaving runs before being stopped, unfairly, in his tracks inside the 18-yard area. Brooks made no mistake with the resulting penalty.
Early in the second half Elliott Parrott fired a good shot just wide of Duggan’s goal, but it was the Tulips who were soon celebrating a third goal. Teenagers Scott Floyd and Luke White, who both contributed superbly to the team success, were involved in the movement which provided the opportunity for 18-year-old Lockie to score his fourth goal in three games.
The game lost some momentum following the enforced halt in play, but re-ignited with Brooks again testing keeper Crane and Duggan saving bravely at feet in a packed Tulips area.
A tangle of arms and legs between Neal Spafford and Christie resulted in the late penalty being awarded to the home side, which Troke despatched with just minutes of the game remaining.
Spalding visit Peterborough Sports on Monday night (7.45pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Floyd, Hugo, Marshall, Humble, Spafford, Miller, Brooks, Davison (Fixter 90+2), White (Havard 90), Acar (Lockie 62). Not used: King, Smith.
