The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
There was no home comforts for Spalding United on Tuesday night as their poor run continued with a first home defeat of the season.
The Tulips had looked set to end their poor away form on Saturday but they conceded a 90th minute equaliser to draw 2-2 at Sutton Coldfield.
They led too on Tuesday night thanks to a stunning effort from the edge of the area by Jordan Graham on 21 minutes.
But Corby responded with Connor Thompson sending a defender the wrong way before finishing well.
They missed two good chances before the break going through twice one-on-one Thompson being denied by the post and Ben Heath saving well from Kristopher Oti.
Spalding responded after the break with James Clifton laying on a brilliant ball for Riley O’Sullivan but his effort was well saved.
Captain Nathan Stainfield was already on a yellow after a late challenge six minutes earlier, when he clumsily bundled into the back of Tomlinson and was given his marching orders.
The resulting free kick by Danny Gordon was stunning, a powerful curling effort into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Spalding were better from thereon in, but the closest they came to a leveller was when Sam Cartwright put his free header straight at the keeper.
“The game went exactly how I thought it would,” said manager Elliott Sandy. “Corby stick it on you, they make you defend, but I thought we played well in spells.
“Jordan scored a brilliant goal and we looked in control of the game but defensively at times we’re all over the place.
“Then ten seconds later pretty much the same thing happened.
“The hard thing to take is Saturday and today we dominated.
“We played 25 minutes with ten men and completely dominated but couldn’t score.
“Fair play to Corby, they were at it and they fought for everything and in the end we couldn’t get the equaliser.”
“We’re in a real tough run.
“Things are going against us and I don’t want to make excuses, but it seems every little thing is going against us.
“We had the red card and the guy puts in the best free kick I’ve seen.
“It’s my responsibility and job to tell the lads to keep going.
“They worked their socks off. It’s not like they’ve downed tools.
“I take responsibility for the run we’re in.
“I’m picking the team, putting it out there and choosing the tactics.”
The previous Saturday, the Tulips were 2-0 up at Sutton Coldfield and on course for their first league away win since August.
A fine ball in from O’Sullivan was turned into his own net by Taylor Carter-Byrne to give the visitors the lead in first half stoppage time before Cartwright netted from a Clifton free kick to make it 2-0 three minutes into the second period.
But with 14 minutes to go Fraser Doyle halved the deficit before James Tague took advantage of hesitant defending to earn a point for Sutton.
“For 80 minutes it was the perfect away performance,” said Sandy. “We defended really well, took our chances to go 2-0 up and looked comfortable against some danergous players and a team who plays good football.
“They never really looked like hurting us.
“Then two balls into our box, one deflected, Ben’s decided to come and the lad’s run in for a free header for 2-1.
“Then you’re always going to be up against it a bit.
“We had chances to make it three or four and didn’t.
“It was so disappointing to end up with a draw in a game we should have won.”
The Tulips are down to fourth behind the Leicestershire trio of Loughborough Dynamo, Anstey Nomads and Harborough Town.
Spalding remain just three points behind leaders Loughborough though.
They’re back at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field on Saturday hosting another Leicestershire side in Quorn.
“It’s a massive game and Quorn are right up there and a real good side,” said Sandy.
lUnder 16s will be allowed entry to the Quorn game for free on Saturday. Kick off is at 3pm.
The game is being sponsored by the Tulips Supporters’ Club.
For more on the group visit their Facebook page.
Tulips v Corby: Heath, Draper (Westwood 45), Warburton, Barker, Stainfield, Cartwright, Hakeem (Ngwa 71), Clifton, Graham (Hilliard 77), Walker, O’Sullivan. Subs not used Snedden, Winters.
Attendance: 279.
Tulips v Sutton Coldfield: Heath, Draper, Warburton, Barker, Stainfield (Sneddon 73), Cartwright, Hakeem (Westwood 80), Clifton, Graham. Walker, O’Sullivan. Subs not used Winters, Hilliard, Ngwa.
Attendance: 133
