Pat not fazed by Tulips’ opening day defeat

Sutton Coldfield Town 2
Spalding United 0

NOTHING TO FEAR: Pat Rayment saw plenty of positives for Spalding United at Sutton Coldfield on Saturday.
Photo by NIKKI GRIFFIN

Defiant Spalding United boss Pat Rayment doesn’t think his side have anything to fear in Evo-Stik League First Division South this season – despite seeing them lose their opener on Saturday.

Goals from Jordan Tunnicliffe (42) and Justin Richards (83) fired Sutton Coldfield Town to a 2-0 triumph on their artificial 3G pitch, but Spalding had more than enough chances to win the game.

The Tulips should really have been comfortably ahead at half time, but saw Jordan Thomas spurn two golden one-on-one chances and Chris Hall rattle the bar.

Although scathing about his sides’ finishing, boss Rayment was encouraged by the showing against a side he rates as second favourites for the title.

“We should have won, simple as that,” said the UCL Premier DIvision title-winning chief. “Jordan has missed two unbelievable chances and we’ve shipped two soft goals.

“The finishing has to be better. Defenders always get panned for making mistakes, so when my strikers miss sitters it will be treated the same.

“Perversely, I’m actually pretty happy. If they are second favourites for the title, then I don’t think we’ve got too much to worry about. When we get our full team on the pitch, we’ll be a match for anyone.

“Overall, it’s not the worst start. There’s no doubt that Sutton’s pitch gives them a massive advantage.

“Put it like this – I’m looking forward to playing them at our place already.”

Spalding started brightly with Thomas twice missing glorious chances. He was put clean through on two different occasions, but fired straight at the on-rushing keeper both times.

At the other end, Ashley Robinson was afforded a free header from a corner situation but denied by a far post clearance from left back Adam Jackson, who had an excellent debut game at this level.

Hall was then desperately unlucky not to have given the Tulips the lead on 25 minutes. His shot from just inside the home area crashed against the crossbar, with keeper Lee Evans rooted to the spot.

Hosts Sutton then broke the deadlock in the 42nd minute. A mix-up between Tom Roberts and Kern Miller saw the stand-in keeper concede a corner.

Tom Turton’s kick sailed towards the far post where Tunnicliffe rose above the defence to head home.

The second half saw the Tulips step up a gear in search of the equaliser they deserved.

New signing Mitch Griffiths replaced Ash Burbeary on 56 minutes in an effort to give the team more pace and strength down the right side and the ploy worked, with the Tulips controlling much of the play but still lacking the final sting inside the home area.

There were strong penalty appeals when Hall was bundled over inside the area on the hour, but referee Simon Gudger was not interested.

To rub salt in Spalding’s collective wounds, Sutton stretched their advantage seven minutes from time.

The ball was played wide to find Richards and he cut in from a narrow angle and squeezed the ball past Roberts to find the target just inside the far post.

Spalding searched for a consolation In the closing minutes Griffiths’ header from a Jamie Thurlbourne cross zipped just over the bar and moments later Nathan Stainfield’s header from a Thurlbourne corner was inches wide of a post.

Tulips: Roberts, Bore, Jackson, Miller, N Stainfield, Webb, Hall, Leary, Thomas (Waumsley 79), Burbeary (Griffiths 56), Thurlbourne. Not used: G Stainfield, McKue, Ebdon.

Attendance: 102