We’ve blown it! Tulips boss Rayment rages at players after draw

Tividale 1
Spalding United 1

Fuming Spalding United supremo Pat Rayment reckons that his side have blown their chance of reaching the Evo-Stik League First Division South play-offs after being held at Tividale on Tuesday night.

All looked to be going to plan for the Tulips when Matt Nolan fired them ahead on 35 minutes at The Beeches. The big striker notched from close range following Nathan Stainfield’s flick on from a Jamie Thurlbourne long throw.

Tom Waumsley wasted a big chance to make it 2-0 soon after, but the in-form hosts hit back through Karl Edwards 15 minutes from time, leaving Spalding outside the play-off places ahead of Saturday’s season finale at Romulus (3pm).

They are no longer in charge of their own destiny either, with the Tulips now likely to need to win their game at the Central Ground and hope that either Sutton Coldfield lose at Norton United and/or that the Gresley versus Stafford Rangers result goes their way (see below).

Regardless of what happens, Rayment feels that his team have let the club down – and in a brutally honest assessment at the most sensitive of times, he has vowed to make sweeping changes over the summer.

“Our performance was no different to the last few weeks,” said the Spalding supremo. “By that, I mean that it wasn’t anywhere near good enough.

“It was a very, very, very poor performance. Over the last few weeks, for some reason, a certain few players have all taken their foot off the pedal.

“We now find ourselves in a situation where we aren’t in control of our own destiny. I’m sorry, but for what these players are paid, we should have had our play-off place sewn up a long time ago.

“It shouldn’t have come to this, but here we are. Sadly there’s just not enough desire or professionalism on show from too many of the players.

“If you’re asking me now if I think we’ll make the play-offs now, my answer has to be no. We’ve blown it big time.

“We had a mini-revival about eight weeks ago, but for too long now the performances haven’t been good enough and we’ve just not looked like scoring any goals. We only got the one here from a lucky long throw.

“People will think that this is knee-jerk or poorly timed, but I don’t care. There are a lot of players in our dressing room that talk a good game, but simply are not doing it on a pitch.

“Well I’ll tell you now, they won’t be at the club next season. Too many players haven’t lived up to the generous wages they are getting here and they’ll be moved on – there will be sweeping changes over the summer whatever happens.

“I can only hope that a few of them take this on board and deliver at Romulus. But I won’t hold my breath.”

Defender Nathan Stainfield, who went off with a recurrence of his shoulder injury, isn’t expected to make the trip to Romulus.

Saturday’s hosts are 12th, but haven’t lost since a 4-1 beating at Tividale in late February. Since then, they’ve taken the scalps of both second-placed Leek Town and play-off hopefuls Stafford Rangers.

Follow @Andrew_Clucas for updates on what is sure to be a frantic final day of the season.

Tulips: Pycock, Banister, Jackson, Stevens, N Stainfield (McGovern 46), Webb, Griffiths, Hall, Waumsley, Nolan (Vieira 80), Thurlbourne (Beeson 80). Not used: G Stainfield.

EVO-STIK LEAGUE 1DS PROMOTION RACE

(Champions) Mickleover 97pts
Leek Town 88pts
Newcastle Town 84pts
Gresley 81pts (goal difference 46)
Sutton Coldfield 80pts (GD 33)
Spalding Utd 79pts (GD 46)
Stafford Rangers 78pts (GD 34)
Key fixtures (Sat, 3pm): Norton Utd v Sutton Coldfield; Romulus v Spalding Utd; Stafford Rangers v Gresley.

Spalding WILL qualify for the play-offs if…

• They win and either Gresley or Sutton Coldfield lose.
• They draw and Sutton Coldfield lose, coupled with Stafford failing to win.
• They win and Gresley draw.

Spalding WON’T qualify for the play-offs if…

• They lose.
• They fail to win and Sutton Coldfield avoid defeat.
• They win, but both Gresley and Sutton Coldfield win.

Should Spalding finish in fourth, they’ll visit either Newcastle Town or Gresley on Tuesday night for the one-legged play-off semi.

Should they grab fifth place, it’ll mean a trip to second-placed Leek on the same night (7.45pm).