Spalding United 0 Halesowen Town 3
It was a case of mixed emotions for Spalding United boss Gaby Zakuani after seeing his Spalding United side beaten 3-0 by table-topping Halesowen Town on Saturday.
Goals from Simoen Cobourne (16), Ahmed Ali (39) and Kyle Finn (50) gave Halesowen a comfortable Pitching In NPL Midlands Division success at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
It’s now back-to-back 3-0 league losses for the Tulips, who performed much better in an FA Trophy loss on penalties to Tamworth inbetween the humblings.
The defeat leaves Spalding ten points shy of the play-off places after 14 games and Zakuani feeling a little hard done by.
“The first half was a poor performance from us,” admitted the ex-Peterborough United captain. “We gave away a few soft goals and left ourselves chasing the game.
“It’s been a bit of a regular theme for us and it’s hard to play the way you want to when you’re always behind.
“I felt like we held our own in the second half, but the damage had already been done really.
“Halesowen have been at the top end of the table for a while and it was a good game for me to watch.
“I can see what we need to improve now and I can see that we need to add more quality in certain areas.
“I expect to be pushing as hard as we can to get into the top five and that’s what we’ll continue to do.”
Perhaps Spalding’s best chance of the game came in the first half, with right-sider Bailey Baker firing a strike inches wide from distance on 26 minutes.
Striker Enoch Opayinka also made his debut as a half-time substitute (see page 31).
Tulips: Duggan, G Yala, James, Bucciero (Cartwright 60), Stainfield, Price, Floyd (Opayinka 46), Broccoli, Baker, Macleod, Olivant (Adams). Not used: England, R Yala.
Attendance: 283.
