Spalding United manager Elliot Sandy was left delighted as his side earned a point at Pitching In Northern Premier Division leaders Harborough Town on Saturday despite playing with ten men for more than half the game.
Tyler Winters was shown a straight red just before half time, but the Tulips more than held their own to earn a 0-0 draw.
It keeps them in second, a point behind Harborough.
”I’m so proud of the lads,” Sandy said. “I know we’ve had the better chances and probably should have scored at least one, but Harborough are a very good side with quality and we did so well to nullify them.
“A draw is probably a fair result, but with ten men we hung in brilliantly and we’ve now a couple of clean sheets in a row which keeps us up there.”
Spalding had the better of the opening period on the 3G surface in Leicestershire with Glen Walker having an early effort denied by a brilliant save from the keeper after latching on to a ball into the box.
Winter went close with an effort from distance before his sending off where the players went in for a 50/50 and he made contact with the Harborough player’s ankle.
Sandy said he had no complaints over the decision.
He himself though was sent from the bench during the second period.
Harborough had more of the ball but Spalding remained resolute and went closest to scoring in the latter stage when Riley O’Sullivan had a sight of goal and his chipped effort beat the keeper but came back from the underside of the cross bar.
Spalding keeper Tony Breedon made a good save from a back post header but that was the closest Harborough came to a winner and they were forced to defend again late on, just about clearing a goal-mouth scramble.
The Tulips are back at home this Saturday when they host Rugby Town at the Sir Halley Stewart.
Spalding will be hoping to get back to winning ways against a Rugby side third from bottom in the table.
Tulips: Breedon, Westwood, Warburton, Walker, Stainfields, Freeman, Hilliard, Curtis, O’Sullivan, Winters, Draper. Subs Clifton, Barker, Snedden, Graham, Hakeem.
Attendance: 386.
