Spalding United

A scrambled goal from a six-yard melee in the final quarter of the game, denied the Tulips of a share of the points at table-topping King’s Lynn Town.
Although chasing the game after going behind to a Jack Defty goal on 15 minutes, the Tulips were always involved and indeed, in the closing stages had the Linnets under pressure and were near to levelling the scores.
After being subjected to a 4-0 defeat at the Sir Halley Stewart Field at the beginning of November, this was a much improved performance by the Tulips who included former crowd pleaser Ricky Miller who returns after a three-year absence. Also in the side was Dan French who was recalled from ”the cold” by new boss Pat Rayment.
There was a lot of pluses from the display for Rayment in his first full game in charge following his appointment, not least by Josh Ford who enjoyed another solid outing in his new full back position and justifiably carried off the Tulips’ man-of-the-match nomination. Simon Mowbray was another contender after notching both of the team’s goals which took his total for the season so far to 19.
Early play saw the home team making full use of a strong assisting wind to pressure the Tulips’ goal. But some dogged defence and a smart save by Nick Conroy from Lynn play-maker Stephen Spriggs kept the Tulips in the game.
However, the deadlock was broken on 15 minutes with Defty pouncing on a half cleared corner to steer the ball just inside the far post. But home fans in the 635 crowd, were silenced seven minutes later. Ricky Miller created space down the right wing and threaded an inch-perfect pass through for Simon Mowbray to run on and superbly slot the ball past the advancing Alex Street.
But it took The Linnets just four minutes to restore their advantage. Jordan Yong was allowed to run the ball from near the halfway line and drive it into the net via the far post on 26 minutes.
Man-of-the-match Spriggs subjected the Tulips to a few nervy moments with his trickery down the right wing but the visitors stuck manfully to the task in hand and were near to levelling the scores shortly before the interval when Mowbray burst through. Unfortunately his finish let him and the team down.
Spriggs brought a stunning fingertip save from Conroy to keep the Tulips in the game. But the impressive Spriggs was not to be denied and from the resulting corner and amid a goalmouth melee, he got the vital touch to extend the home lead in the 72nd minute.
But barely a minute later the game was wide open again. Callum Earls went on one of his trademark dashes down the left wing and finished with a well struck shot that ‘keeper Street could only parry. Mowbray quickly pounced on the loose ball to slot it into the sacking from 18 yards to set up a frantic finale.
Team: Conroy, Ford, Earls, Thompson, Fuff, Ashton, French, Brady (Harris 69 mins), Smith, Mowbray, Miller. Subs (not used) – Lyon, Cherry, Hussey.