A man-of-the-match display from goalkeeper Peter Crook was not enough to save Spalding United from defeat at Marine on Saturday.
The Tulips fell to a 66th-minute goal on a sodden Lancashire coast to slip out of the National League North play-off places.
Crook looked invincible with a string of superb saves and convincing handling but was left unsighted when Ben Darby fired the ball home after a swift, inter-passing move by the Crosby-based hosts.
Manager Jimmy Dean said he had seven members of his squad unavailable due to injury but matched Marine for energy but needed more.
“We had to put our foot on the ball and play football but we didn’t. We were too panicky,” he said, of the game played in heavy rain and strong wind.
“We didn’t make the most of our advantage in the first half and neither side had many chances.
“In the second half we played a bit more football when the three subs came on but we got caught in possession and it was a really bad goal to give away.
“The defeat was a tough one to take but we didn’t create enough. It was a tight pitch, in horrible conditions and we never really settled into the game. We didn’t do enough to show we deserved anything from the game.”
League top scorer Bart Cybulski was on the bench, however, he was still feeling the effects of an injury and the manager said: “Bart had a fitness test at the hotel in the morning but didn’t feel right to start. We wanted him for the last 30 minutes but he said he was a little bit achy so we erred on the side of caution, with Saturday’s big game in mind.”
The Tulips welcome Alvechurch to the Sir Halley Stewart Field in the final qualifying round of the FA Cup, with a place among the Football League clubs at stake.
“We should have one or two more back,” said Dean. “We’ve had them watched and it’s a massive game for the club, the town, me and the players. We want to be in the hat come Monday.
“It’s a home game to win to get into the first round proper and it will be great to see the fans come out and support us.
“They’ve waited a long time for the club to have a team with a real chance of doing something. Come out and support us, we’ll give you everything we’ve got.”
Tulips: Crook, Kelly, Johnson, Bendle, Barton, Jarvis, Fox, Fowkes (Betteka), Vaughan (Sani), Byrne, Straughan-Brown (Bendle). Subs: Cybulski, Wilks, Grant, Stevenson.
Attendance: 1,405.
