On his 400th appearance for the club, veteran keeper Michael Duggan sent Spalding United to their first County Cup final in 30 years with a penalty shoot out win over Cleethorpes on Tuesday night.
The Tulips will take on Grantham Town in the final at Lincoln City’s LNER Stadium on Tuesday, March 28.
Duggan saved twice in the shoot out to send Spalding through 5-4 after a 0-0 draw in normal time.
“I’m really pleased for everyone at the club,” said manager Brett Whaley. “Yes as a manager and a player you want to play in these big games but it’s also about the volunteers and supporters who want to be a part of these showpiece events at the end of the season.
“When we really needed him Duggy pulled off two really brilliant saves.
“I suppose it’s quite fitting that in his 400th game he’s done that.
“We’ve watched Grantham this season and they’ve a good squad of players that their league position doesn’t show.
“I’m sure they’ll take a big support to Lincoln so it’ll be a real challenge.
“But as a group of players we want to win this competition now.
“It’s great to reach a final.”
The semi-final was an open game. Duggan had to save well in the first half denying Will Annan and Jack McMenemy when one-on-one.
Bradley Rolt looked most dangerous for Spalding with three chances going just wide.
Just before the break Nathan Stainfield put his diving header from a corner while under pressure from a defender, just over from close range.
The Tulips defence held firm under more Cleethorpes pressure in the second half, though Nathan Atsu nearly won it in normal time as a chipped finish went just wide of the post.
It was his penalty that put Spalding through to the final 5-4, after Duggan saved Cleethorpes’ last two spot kicks with Danny Draper having missed for Spalding earlier.
“Our performance on the night wasn’t as good as we’d like,” Whaley continued. “The game could’ve finished 3-3 really but we missed too many chances and were too open at the back.
“With five minutes to go we were probably hoping for penalties as they were on top.
“It’s three wins on the bounce but we’re in a position where the top two are in really good form and we’re not in the best form so we know we need to make improvements.
“The great thing about this bunch of players is that if you ask them to work hard at putting it right, they do.”
Tuesday’s result followed a 1-0 home win over St Neots Town in the Pitching-In Northern Premier League Midland Division on Saturday in front of a fantastic crowd of 381 with supporters taking up an offer of half price tickets.
Ansu sealed the win with his first goal for the Tulips on his second starts.
His header from a Lewis Hilliard cross in the 54th minute was enough to earn the win.
Next up the Tulips are back in league action when they visit ninth-placed Chasetown.
Spalding remain third in the table three points behind both leaders Halesowen and Stamford.
“They’re all tough games at this time of year,” said Whaley. “We need to keep improving and keep picking up the wins too and the play-off place will take care of itself.”
Tulips v St Neots Town: Duggan, Hart, Draper (Bucciero 59), Barker, Stainfield, Peters, Jones, Hilliard, Ansu (Cartwright), Broccoli (Rolt 72), Edge. Subs not used: Sandy, Frost.
Attendance: 381.
Tulips v Cleethorpes Town: Duggan, Hart, Bucciero, Peters, Stainfield, Cartwright, Jones, Hilliard, Rolt, Edge, Draper. Subs: Barker, Bolland, Broccoli, Frost, Ansu, Sandy.
