Spalding United 1
King’s Lynn Town 4
An under-strength Spalding United were handed their first pre-season defeat by classy King’s Lynn Town outfit at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Saturday.
A clinical brace of penalties from talented Lynn skipper David Bell (3 and 45) and further strikes from ex-Tulip Ross Watson (58) and Michael Frew (81) put Pat Rayment’s side to the sword.
Jordan Thomas (48) did reduce the deficit to 2-1 with a scorching strike early in the second half, but the Tulips never really looked like salvaging anything from the clash.
With Michael Duggan, Lewis Webb, Julian Kelly, Mark Jones and Tom Waumsley all missing, Spalding handed a start to former Boston United youth player Ngoni Dongo in central midfield and also fielded the Pilgrims’ number two Andy Hewitt in goal.
Keeper Hewitt could do nothing about the early Lynn opener, as Ball belted home the first of his two spot-kicks into the top corner following a clear handball in the box.
That set the tone for the first period, with former Holbeach United striker Sam Mulready proving a real thorn in Spalding’s side. He flashed an angled effort wide, before glancing a brilliant Bell delivery onto the underside of the bar with his head.
The woodwork came to the Tulips’ rescue again soon after, with Jake Jones going on an incredible individual run before clipping a clever effort onto the bar.
There was no denying the Linnets on the stroke of half time though, as Bell burying another cool penalty after Michael Leary was adjudged to have committed a foul in the box.
Andrew Tidswell made his entrance as a half time substitute for Spalding – and he immediately linked up with Thomas for the goal of the game.
After receiving the ball from his strike partner, Thomas worked a bit of space for himself before rifling a thunderous effort into the far top corner. Such was the accuracy of the strike, it bounced back out off the stanchion.
A comeback didn’t really look on for Spalding, though – and they fell two goals behind again just before the hour through a familiar face.
Defender Watson, who helped the Tulips win the UCL Premier Division last term, lashed a close-range effort into the roof of the net from close range to make it 3-1.
It should really have been 4-1 15 minutes from time when Mulready rounded Hewitt and fired into the side netting. But Lynn did get number four in the final ten minutes, Frew expertly lobbing home with a classy side-footed effort.
Spalding, who have beaten Peterborough Sports (2-0) and Boston United (1-0) so far in pre-season, are back in action at St Neots Town on Tuesday night (7.45pm).
Tulips: Hewitt, Bore, Thulrbourne, Miller, N Stainfield, Dongo (Tidswell 46), G Stainfield, Hall, Thomas (Edgas 62), Burberry (McKue 59). Not used: Ebdon.
Attendance: 135.
