A Daniel Klos goal earned Spalding United Reserves a commendable 1-1 draw at ChromaSport PDFL Division One leaders Stamford Lions.
Following Spalding’s 3-1 defeat at home to third place Sutton Bridge in midweek, the trip looked a daunting one.
The task was made harder when they went behind after only minutes.
In mid season, this would have been the recipe for Spalding to press the self-destruct button, but they showed great character, determination and persistence.
Thomaz Mroczka and Matty Rose were majestic in midfield, grabbing the game by the scuff of the neck and getting Spalding playing. Ben Holland sat behind them and protected the back four but when called upon, Jason Chilvers – making his first start since breaking his jaw at the turn of the year – and skipper Dave Endersbee mopped everything up.
As the first half grew older, Spalding threatened more and more. Their best chance came from a header from Rose at the far post that just went wide.
After the restart it was all Spalding, arguably playing some of their best, most confident football of the season.
The equaliser came midway through the half when Rose cleverly delayed his pass before sending a perfect through ball to Klos who stole a march on his marker, touched the ball to his left and from an acute angle on the edge of the penalty area, whipped the ball across to the top right hand corner. It was a stunning strike.
The rapid Daniel Bergin thought he had put the visitors in front but his far post header was chalked off for offside. The Tulips continued to cut the hosts open with intricate passing. Matty Cannon and Rose both went close.
Stamford hit the post and had also had a goal disallowed in a spell of relentless pressure.
And in stoppage time Tulips’ Ash Elderkin pulled off a show-stopping save as he tipped a point blank effort over the bar to ensure the points were shared.
Tulips: Elderkin, McGuire, Chilvers (Britton) Endersbee (c), Holland, Rose, Mroczka, Wycherley (Bergin) Cannon, Klos (Newton).
