Spalding United 3
Sheffield FC 0
Jamie Jackson opened his Spalding United account in style as his hat-trick secured a 3-0 victory over ten-man Sheffield FC on Saturday.
The striker grabbed the only goal of a drab first half at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field when he netted from a Jordan Lemon cross on 34 minutes.
Grant Ryan’s red card for an off-the-ball incident gave the Tulips a numerical advantage for the final half an hour – and Jackson took full advantage with further goals on 85 and 90 minutes to settle the Evo-Stik NPL First Division South clash.
Spalding lost Lee Beeson, Neal Spafford and Conor Marshall to niggly injuries to slightly sour the mood – with all three set to miss Tuesday night’s Integro League Cup home date with Gresley (7.45pm).
Tulips boss Chris Rawlinson, who dedicated the win to the late Jack Goddard, praised man-of-the-match Jackson’s showing and was pleased to see him finally add goals to his impressive performances.
“I’m very pleased,” said the Tulips chief. “Especially considering we lost both of our central midfielders, things were a bit make-shift.
“But fair play to everyone. I thought the under-21 players who came on were excellent and stuck to their task really well.
“As for Jamie, I’ve been really pleased with the way he’s been playing. The only thing he’s not had to show for his efforts is a goal.
“He just needed that chance, which came in the shape of the first goal – which I thought was a really good move and well-worked.
“Yeah, we were lacklustre in the first half and we just needed something to get us going. This time it was a goal, as second half I thought we thoroughly professional and dealt with them – and know they were down to ten men – reasonably easily.
“To be honest, we won at a canter and probably should have scored four or five.
“We’d all like to dedicate that win to Jack, all of the lads wanted to do it for him. His last game here was Cleethorpes when we lost, so to turn that around and win 3-0 was nice.
“We now have to kick on. I’ve said it a few times, but it’s an important point in the season. Are we a bumbling mid-table side or do we have designs of kicking on?
“Yeah, Sheffield are below us in the table, but they’re not a bad side. If we can play like that at home, there’s no reason why we can’t kick on and go through the season winning a lot of home games.
“Then it’s all about what we can pick up on the road.”
A minute of applause took place prior to kick-off, with the late Spalding Vice President Jack Goddard honoured by all in attendance.
The game itself took a while to catch light, with neither side creating anything of note in the first 15 minutes. Sheffield’s Ben Algar looked lively on the right – and the visitors might have scored if somebody could have met his dangerous early cross.
Michael Duggan was forced to make a flying save from Sam Finlaw’s long-range half-volley, but it wouldn’t have counted with the offside flag already raised.
Spalding them came to life, with Beeson seeing a deflected free-kick well saved by Laurence Bilboe after Cenk Acar had been fouled on the edge of the box.
Minutes later it was 1-0, with Jackson finishing off a sweeping move down the right with a clinical effort at the near post following Lemon’s lovely cross.
It was the one moment of quality in an otherwise drab first period, which also saw Spalding midfielder Marshall forced off with an injury.
More injury woe followed for the Tulips, as Beeson was forced off four minutes into the second period.
Again, neither side really managed to get any pulses racing. Spalding did at least have an attempt on goal, but a sliced effort from Lemon went way off target.
At the other end, Sheffield sub Ricardo German showed great pace and skill to flick the ball over the home defence – but volleyed well wide when all of six yards out.
Centre-back Spafford soon became the third Tulips player to hobble off injured, meaning Rawlinson had used all three of his subs by the hour mark.
But their situation became a little easier on 62 minutes, with Sheffield’s Grant Ryan shown a straight red card for an apparent headbutt on Spalding skipper Adam Jackson.
That gave the hosts a bit of breathing space – and they almost doubled their lead when Bilboe produced a fine low save to deny a clean-through Acar.
Sheffield, however, didn’t let their numerical disadvantage bother them and fashioned a few chances of their own.
German again showed potent pace and skill to work an opening on his left foot, but finished wildly at the near post after finding a yard of space.
At the other end, Lemon was unlucky to see a side-footed effort deflected over following a good run and cross from Jonny Lockie.
That man Lockie then had a golden opportunity to double Spalding’s lead. He created the chance himself, closing down his man and using his trademark pace to race clear, but could only hit the side netting with his left foot.
The points were secured five minutes from time, though. Acar showed persistence on the left to beat a few clumsy tackles before squaring for Jamie Jackson to tap home his second of the day.
Acar almost got in on the act himself in the final minute, but his left-footed effort after cutting in from the right was straight down Bilboe’s throat.
But it was Jamie Jackson, typically, who had the last word – angling home his third of the afternoon with his right foot following persistent play from Lockie.
The win moves Spalding up to tenth in the table, but they are just one point behind third-placed Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Rawlinson added that he’d “not take any risks” with his injured players in Tuesday night’s cup date, admitting that next Saturday’s trip to Romulus was the priority.
Tulips: Duggan, Walker, A Jackson, Marshall (Fixter 35), Humble, Spafford, Lemon, Beeson (Clarke 49), J Jackson, Lockie, Acar. Not used: Millington, Neil, Smith.
Attendance: 117
