Spalding United 2
Sheffield FC 0
First-half strikes from Jordan Hempenstall and Mitch Griffiths fired Spalding United to a richly-deserved victory over Sheffield FC on Saturday.
Hitman Hempenstall opened the scoring with a clever low finish on 20 minutes, before turning provider for wing wizard Griffiths to curl home a trademark second just before half time.
The Tulips had a host of chances to add to their tally in the second period, but held firm to avenge October’s 4-3 loss to the world’s oldest football club.
It’s now 15 wins from 19 games in all competitions since that defeat for Pat Rayment’s side, who have also won ten home games on the bounce.
With Evo-Stik League First Division South title/promotion rivals Mickleover Sports, Norton United, Gresley, Stafford Rangers and Lincoln United all dropping points, it was a good day all-round for fourth-placed Spalding.
Indeed, the only thing that annoyed Rayment was a few missed chances.
“I’ve got to be very pleased with that,” said the Tulips chief. “Although we won 2-0, we had plenty of chances to make it more – and I’d say the scoreline flattered them a little.
“Both Andrew Tidswell and Ryan Oliver missed absolute sitters – and I’ll hold them accountable for that, just like I would a defender or keeper if they cost us a goal with a mistake.
“If they’d have pulled one back towards the end we’d have been under a lot of pressure in a game that we really dominated.
“But thankfully we’ve kept another clean sheet, which is the most pleasing aspect of the win for me. We had to battle for the points, but I though the lads showed a lot of resilience and we got the job done.
“Looking at all of the other results, it has been a very good day for us overall.
“I have to be very pleased. Somebody said to me earlier that I’ve now been here three years. We’ve gone from being a laughing stock to where you find us today – and I take great pride in that.”
On a windy and bitterly cold afternoon at the Sir Halley, Spalding started superbly – and could’ve been ahead inside 30 seconds. Chris Hall’s half-volley from the edge of the box beat Jake Eastwood, but bounced back off the inside of the post.
Master marksman Tidswell then screwed an effort wide of the post, with strike partner Hempenstall – who was free to his right – disappointed not to receive the ball.
All was forgiven on 20 minutes when Tidswell’s expert lay-off found Hempenstall, who skipped past a Sheffield defender inside the box before slotting a low drive back across Eastwood and into the far corner to give the hosts a deserved advantage.
The roles were reversed minutes later when Hempenstall won a header to put Tidswell clean through, but Eastwood got down well to save a left-footed drive that was heading for the bottom corner.
Visitors Sheffield did come into the contest after that – and they would surely have levelled from an incisive break but for a top piece of defending from Jamie Stevens. The centre back was the last man standing as Joel Purkiss took him on, but a superbly-timed slide tackle stopped the Sheffield striker from advancing.
Spalding skipper Michael Leary was also forced to make a timely last-ditch tackle to deny James Gregory as the visitors began to build up a head of steam before half time.
But they were stung by a terrific Tulips break on 44 minutes as Rayment’s side doubled their money. Tidswell’s tantalising cross from the left was too big for Hempenstall, but the striker chased down the ball and teed-up Griffiths with a clever pass.
The winger did the rest, cutting inside onto his weaker left foot before dispatching a precise effort into the far corner of the net.
There was still time for Michael Duggan to pull off a wonderful instinctive save to keep out Jamie Hadfield’s header, but Spalding went into the interval 2-0 up.
The Tulips had their chances to extend their lead after the interval. Jack McGovern went close with a cross that caught the wind and looped just over, while both Hempenstall and Hall saw efforts blocked in the box following a melee from a corner.
A beautiful Hempenstall delivery from the left then gave Tidswell the chance to open his account for the afternoon, but he uncharacteristically fired wide on the slide from close range.
At the other end, Sheffield sub Zephaniah Thomas rippled the side netting with a left-footed effort from a tight angle and leading scorer Ashley Longstaff fired wide from just inside the box following an excellent piece of hold up play.
The final chance of the match would have been the goal of the game, but Spalding substitute Oliver couldn’t finish off a move that he started in style. The striker sent a superb ball through for Lee Clarke, who in turn picked out Hempenstall. He then rolled the ball across the box for Oliver, but the big man couldn’t keep his left-footed effort down and blazed the ball well over from close in.
It mattered little, with Spalding already home and hosed to extend their unbeaten run in the league to 13 matches ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Norton (3pm).
Tulips: Duggan, Leary, Jackson, Stevens, N Stainfield, Webb, Griffiths (Oliver 82), Hall, Tidswell (Waumsley 80), Hempenstall, McGovern (Clarke 80). Not used: J Thurlbourne.
Attendance: 152
Sponsors’ MOTM: Chris Hall
Saturday’s results
Evo-Stik League First Division South: Brigg Town 2 Kidsgrove Athletic 2; Carlton Town 1 Chasetown 0; Coalville Town 5 Norton United 2; Goole AFC 1 Sutton Coldfield Town 2; Leek Town 4 Mickleover Sports 1; Loughborough Dynamo 1 Tividale 3; Newcastle Town 2 Gresley FC 0; Romulus 1 Rainworth Miners Welfare 2; Spalding United 2 Sheffield FC 0; Stafford Rangers 0 Lincoln United 0.
