Two Defeats On The Bounce For Tulips

The hosts left themselves a mountain to climb after conceding early goals, but arguably played some of their best football of the season...

Match Report supplied by Tulips' Press Secretary, Ray Tucker.

Conceding two early goals was not the start the Tulips needed against a Basford United team bang in form, unbeaten so far this season and being tipped to win the NPL Evo-Stik South championship, at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Tuesday evening.

The visitors were on the attack from the opening whistle and forced Conor Marshall into conceding a corner. From the resulting kick, the ball, heading for the far post, hit central defender Ellis Humble on the chest and sneaked over the line to present the visitors with a third minute advantage.

Eight minutes later the lead was doubled with Liam Hearn pouncing on a defensive mistake and giving ‘keeper Michael Duggan no chance with his low driven shot from 25 yards.

In between, the Tulips’ Jamie Jackson had brought a brave save from Saul Deeney. Almost immediately Marshall whipped over a great cross to pick out the tricky Cenk Acar, whose shot shaved the outside of a post.

Reward did come for the Tulips on 14 minutes when Gary King spotted Deeney advancing out of his area and lobbed the ball round the ‘keeper beautifully to reduce the arrears.

The football at this stage was fast and furious and swung from end to end, but with Basford always looking the most likely to find the net, although the Tulips did have their moments in front of goal with Deeney saving at point-blank range from Paul Walker.

The opening half though, ended with a bout of severe pressure from Basford and only a good save by Duggan denied Keiran Fenton.

Early in the second-half the returning Lee Beeson (fresh from his short stint with Corby Town) saw his 20-yard effort deflected away for corner.

From the resulting kick Jamie Jackson probably had the Tulips’ best scoring chance so far but somehow hooked the ball high over the target from close in. Jordan Lemon was also high when connecting with a pin-point cross from Jackson.

It was hard work for the Tulips to contain their rampant visitors who spent considerable time in the home team’s half of the pitch. Pressure finally told and the 66th minute saw Neal Spafford penalised for a foul on Courey Graham as the pair were locked together as they entered the area, and referee Kevin Saunby had no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Hearn duly converted the penalty, sending Duggan the wrong way, for his second goal of the game.

The Tulips did manage to get the ball in the Basford net for a second time on 88 minutes, but Gary King’s effort was ruled out for a dubious handball offence that few in the ground, or indeed on the pitch, had spotted.

Tulips: Michael Duggan, Paul Walker, Adam Jackson, Conor Marshall, Ellis Humble, Neal Spafford (Jonny Lockie, 84 mins), Jordan Lemon, Lee Beeson, Gary King (Jack Fixter, 88 mins), Jamie Jackson, Cenk Acar. Subs (not used): Bradley Maslen-Jones, Matt Clarke, Jamie McGhee

Tulips' Man-of-the-Match, award by Match Sponsor, Clear Insurance Group: Conor Marshall

Att: 122

The Tulips are next at home in Evo-Stik South action v Sheffield FC on Saturday 14th October (KO: 3.00pm).

Admission prices at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field throughout 2017/18 are as follows:-
Adults: £9.00
Concessions/Students: £6.00
Youths (12-16): £2.00
Accompanied U12s: FREE!
Matchday Programmes: £2.50

We hope we can once again count on your invaluable support for this fixture as we seek to get as many voices as possible behind Chris Rawlinson and the players - Come On You Mighty Tulips!!!