Spalding United 2
Stamford 1
Two more goals from red-hot Bradley Wells fired Spalding United to a memorable derby win over Stamford in Evo-Stik NPL Division One South on Monday.
The striker, who was released by Stamford boss Graham Drury, notched on eight and 42 minutes at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field to keep Spalding’s unbeaten league record going and take his tally to eight goals in five games.
The Daniels had made the perfect start, with striker Ryan Robbins firing them ahead after just 82 seconds following an explosive run and neat finish.
But, for all of their possession, the title favourites were unable to break Dave Frecklington’s Tulips down in the second half and the hosts were full value for the points.
The victory, Spalding’s third from four league matches, leaves them third in the early standings and just two points behind early pace-setters Witton Albion and Romulus.
Buzzing boss Frecklington said: “I’m delighted with the performance really, we showed great work-rate, commitment and desire against a really good side.
“Graham’s sides are always up and at you. They probably played the better football in terms of possession, but it doesn’t really count for a lot when you’re organised, solid and have the work ethic that we’ve got.
“To beat our local rivals at home in front of a really good crowd – in what was my first derby as manager here – is great.
“I asked the lads if we could get four points from six over the Bank Holiday, but we’ve got six against two really good sides.
“To dig in and come from behind was also great. We asked the question of the lads, as we’ve been 2-0 up in every game so far apart from today.
“I wanted to see what the character and resolve was like when we went behind, as it was always going to happen, and from one to 14 it was top drawer.
“Brad Wells not only gave us great work rate up front, but he really bullied the defenders.
“They had to drag their captain, a quality centre half, off at half time. Brad then gave his replacement, another quality centre half in Kern Miller, a real torrid time.
“When we do get a full strength side together maybe you’ll start to see more from us is terms of possession, but people forget that we’re a new team. You certainly wouldn’t have though that from this performance.
“It was also a great turnout from the local public, we really couldn’t have asked for any more from them.”
In front of a bumper 317 crowd at the Sir Halley, Spalding couldn’t really have made a worse start.
Talented Stamford frontman Robbins raced through the heart of their defence, showing great power and pace, before calmly firing a low left-footed effort past a helpless Michael Duggan inside two minutes.
Ex-Tulip David Bell then went close with one of many dangerous free-kicks, before Spalding grabbed a leveller from their first attack.
A great header from winger Paul Walker across the Stamford box found Wells, who had escaped the attention of Stamford skipper Paul Malone, free in the box – and he made no mistake from close range.
Walker then wreaked havoc in the Stamford box with another dangerous delivery, with both Wells and Andrew Wright having efforts on goal blocked.
At the other end it was Jordan Smith’s turn to put a great low cross into the six-yard area, but nobody was there to finish with the goal gaping.
There was plenty of needle in the game too, best highlighted in the first period by a late tackle from Walker that left Jake Duffy in a heap on the floor. The Spalding man was deservedly booked.
With the game drifting towards half time, the hosts struck again. A trademark long throw from Matt Varley somehow found its way through to Wells, who smashed home his second from around six yards out.
Delory Gordon almost levelled for the visitors with the final effort of the half, but his back-post header from Bell’s corner came back off the outside of the post.
Stamford hauled off skipper Malone and replaced him with ex-Tulip Kern Miller at half time, while Spalding shifted to a 4-1-4-1 formation in a bid to hold onto their lead.
It was the Daniels who had the better of the chances, with Duggan forced to tip over following a scramble in the box and Robbins slicing an effort wide when well placed.
But the Tulips did an excellent job of containing their South Lincolnshire neighbours – and almost added to their lead too.
Wright unleashed a couple of decent hits after cutting in from the left flank, but sent one just over and fired the other down Peter Denton’s throat.
One ugly exchange in the second period saw Stamford defender Tom Batchelor escape with a yellow card after seemingly kicking out at Wells.
It typified the Daniels’ mood, with Frecklington’s charges nullifying them perfectly.
A knackered Wells did have one big chance to complete his treble after being sent clean through in added time, but he could barely muster an effort on goal, such was the effort he had put in.
It mattered little, with Spalding holding firm to secure another impressive win.
Stamford supremo Drury felt the Tulips deserved their win, but was scathing in his criticism of skipper Malone, blaming him for both goals.
Drury said: “Paul Malone made two mistakes – just couldn’t pick his man up. It cost us two goals, he knows his job and can have no excuses.
“He’s disappointed and I’m disappointed. We went 1-0 up and were in control of the game.
“We knew 100 per cent that set pieces were Spalding’s main threat. We know what they do, we know about their long balls and we know about the areas they use.
“We told the lads exactly where Brad Wells would run and we told them who to mark.
“Unfortunately, Malone didn’t do his job and that’s why he came off at half time. I don’t usually slate players, be he seriously needs to have a look at himself after that performance.
“We had a great start, Ryan Robbins looked really sharp and got a great finish. We had two attacks after that and looked OK, then we switched off and it gave them a bit of belief and they had a ten-minute spell after that where we looked a bit nervy, but I felt we finished the half stronger.
“The second goal killed us, though. We should have scored just before half time – and at 2-2 it might have been a different game.
“But Spalding well deserved the points, they did their job well. They’re not pretty – they’re a proper Evo-Stik Division One side that just turn you.
“Brad Wells was a handful today – a player I let go. All credit to him, he got two goals and was a nuisance and was more of a threat than my forwards. Maybe it was a bad choice from the gaffer to let him go?
“Do I see Spalding as a rival this season? Yeah, they’re good at what they do.
“Frecks has been the league for a couple of years now and he understands it. He doesn’t want to play and doesn’t want to press you at the back. They try and beat you on the second ball just turn you, which has worked for them today. Fair play to them.”
Tulips: Duggan, Lemon (Downey 49), Field, Varley, Stainfield, Spafford, Walker, Whitehead, Wells, Lockie (Collingsworth 71), Wright. Not used: Costa, Acar.
Daniels: Denton, Gordon, Luto (King 59), Malone (Miller 46), Batchelor, Hill, Brown (Mulready 70), Bell, Smith, Duffy, Robbins. Not used: Hartley, Sandy.
Sponsors’ MOTM: Stainfield.
Attendance: 317
