Spalding Utd 2 Rainworth Miners Welfare 0: It was not a pretty match for supporters to watch, but nevertheless productive for the Tulips who picked up another three points at the Sir Halley Stewart Field and regained fourth spot in Evo-Stik League Division One South.
The Tulips are now on a 14-game unbeaten run in league and cup, their last defeat being in the FA Trophy replay against Leek Town on November 4. The last league defeat was back to October 4 when they lost by the odd goal in seven at Sheffield FC. From that day the records show only one reverse in 21 outings – quite a record.
The three points gained against Rainworth on Saturday came via two second-half goals from leading scorer Tom Waumsley and substitute Jack McGovern.
Assistant boss Marcus Ebdon admitted it was not an attractive game for spectators.
“But you have to accept that occasions like this at this time of year when pitches are difficult will happen”, he said. “The most important thing is that we have picked up the points.”
The game opened with a hard-working Rainworth side applying pressure from kick-off and threatening the home goal. But thereafter they seldom troubled goalkeeper Michael Duggan.
For the Tulips, Jordan Hempenstall was just off target with a hooked shot from the edge of the area following a neat short pass from workaholic Waumsley.
Midway through Lewis Webb fired wide following some good build-up play and minutes before the break Lee Clarke’s close range effort was deflected for a corner. From the resultant kick, Jamie Stevens, who turned in a man-of-the-match performance, headed over the bar.
The all-important opening goal arrived two minutes into the second half. A long throw-in by Jamie Thurlbourne caused some confusion in the Rainworth goal area, but Waumsley reacted superbly to turn and rifle the ball past helpless keeper David Reay from three yards.
With home pressure maintained, Hempenstall worked hard to negotiate enough space to release a shot. Unfortunately the ball sailed high over the bar.
Then a Clarke close-range effort was put away for the first of three consecutive corners, all of which were effectively cleared by the visiting defence. At the other end, Rainworth’s most effective striker Elliott Brown blazed the ball high over the bar from one of his team’s rare sorties into the home penalty area.
The points were made safe for the Tulips, however, a minute from normal time when McGovern, an 80th minute replacement for Jamie Thurlbourne, unleashed a tremendous low drive from 20 yards.
Tulips: Duggan, Griffiths, Jackson, Stevens, Leary, Webb, Clarke (Nuttell 62mins), Hall, Waumsley, Hempenstall (Tidswell 70mins), J Thurlbourne (McGovern 80mins). Sub not used: Oliver.
Supporters’ man-of-the-match: Stevens.
Attendance: 139
Next up for the Tulips is the rescheduled Lincolnshire Senior Trophy quarter-final at Premier Division AFC Stamford on Tuesday (7.45pm).
