The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Radford 1
Spalding United 2
Boss Pat Rayment was forced to read the riot act to his Spalding United side at half-time on Saturday as they came from behind to stay in The Emirates FA Cup after a scare at lower-graded Radford.
Rayment’s blast was specifically aimed at his three-man strike force of Tom Waumsley, Jordan Nuttell and Josh Moreman who never came to grips with the physicality and packed defence of their Nottingham hosts who began the game with a 4-5-1 formation.
The outburst however, did the trick as they went on to dominate and, ironically, it was last season’s top marker Waumsley (54 and 60) who bagged the Tulips’ two goals to cancel out Radford’s 42nd-minute penalty opener.
Spalding will now meet Evo-Stik League Premier Division side Nantwich Town in the first qualifying round at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Saturday week.
Rayment said: “I could tell that we were in trouble during the warm-up. The players probably felt like they just needed to turn up to win.
“That first half was embarrassing, my strikers were absolutely bullied.
“I told a few players that they’d be leaving the club at 5pm if they didn’t sort it out.
“Thankfully they responded in the right manner and we’re through.
“That’s all the matters – and we have a tasty tie with Nantwich in the next round.”
Despite their failure to get their noses in front, the Tulips did generally play the better football and create scoring chances in the first half.
After just eight minutes skipper Adam Jackson pinged a great effort into the home area, but the ball was deflected away for a corner.
From the following kick defender Neal Spafford just missed the target with a strong header.
The Tulips did get the ball into the home net on 19 minutes, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on young goalkeeper Callum Dunning.
Man-of-the-match Mitch Griffiths then picked out Nuttell, whose effort clattered against the woodwork. Griffiths, always full of running and wanting the ball, then had a shy at goal but his effort was always rising over the bar.
The pressure continued as Moreman managed to find a way through the packed rearguard of their hosts. His follow-up shot was parried by keeper Dunning, but from the rebound Nuttell missed an excellent opportunity to break the deadlock from close in.
Radford always looked dangerous on the break, but seldom troubled Tulips’ keeper Michael Duggan – who for long periods was a mere spectator.
However, their perseverance won a penalty, conceded by Sam Murphy, and Carey Knight made no mistake from the spot to give his side a 42nd minute lead.
The Tulips almost made it 1-1 before the break, with Adam Millson’s effort rattling the woodwork.
After their half-time Rayment roasting, Spalding soon levelled in the second period. Griffiths’ corner was headed back over the area by Moreman to give Waumsley the simplest of tap-ins at the far post.
Waumsley was near to doubling his money a couple of minutes later with keeper Dunning pushing his shot away for another corner.
But the striker was not to be denied and he was on the end of a Paul Walker corner on 60 minutes to give the Tulips the advantage for the first time.
It was a lead the side was determined not to relinquish, despite a determined effort by the hard working hosts.
Tulips: Duggan, Griffiths, Jackson, Walker, Spafford, Murphy (Rawdon 82), Zuerner (Lawlor 60), Millson, Waumsley (Hussey 85), Nuttell, Moreman. Not used: Barlow.
Attendance: 110
