Title joy for Tulips despite defeat

Spalding United 1 Huntingdon Town 2
(UCL Premier Division)

CHAMPAGNE MOMENT: Spalding United enjoy their UCL Premier Division championship. Photos by NIKKI GRIFFIN

Pat Rayment toasted a bright Spalding United future as his side finally got their hands on the UCL Premier Division title on Saturday – despite seeing his side lose 2-1 at home to Huntingdon Town.

The all-conquering Tulips were jubilant as they lifted the club’s first league title in ten years, but a second-half winner from Jacob Joyce did make it back-to-back defeats for the champions.

A stunning Chris Jones drive did put Huntingdon ahead inside two minutes at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field, only for Jamie Thurlbourne (20) to curl home a sensational 30-yard equaliser mid-way through the opening period.

That’s how it stayed until ex-Tulip Joyce nodded home Town’s second on 56 minutes, which secured an impressive double over the champions for Seb Hayes’ side.

Spalding’s Danny Hussey (violent conduct) and Huntingdon’s Billy Oliver (professional foul) were both sent off in the final minutes, but the day was all about Rayment’s side getting the recognition they deserve for a stunning season.

“I’m just really pleased for everyone here today,” said the Tulips chief. “This means a lot to this club and I’m pleased we delivered for them.

“Just looking around and seeing everybody happy with our achievements is what it’s all about.

“There are a lot of people here today and it feels like we’re part of something special, which was the aim from day one.

“The result didn’t go our way today and I’m not happy about that, but I thought we played pretty well. Certainly a lot better than last week.

“Their winning goal was soft, but now isn’t the time to dwell on it

“We’ve played some excellent stuff this season and it’s an exciting time for this football club. We’ve got big plans moving forward and I’m already talking to players about next season.

“We’ll not rest on our laurels – this club is on the up. For now, we’ll just enjoy this success. It has been a long time coming and we’ll enjoy it.”

Having been far from their best in last Saturday’s 2-0 defeat in the reverse fixture at Jubilee Park, Spalding were ordered to perform in front of an expectant crowd of 270.

But they soon found themselves behind courtesy of Jones’ bolt from the blue. The Huntingdon winger caught a clearance on the volley from some 25 yards out, with the ball flying past Tom Roberts and into the bottom corner via the post.

At the other end it was the Tulips’ Jones – Mark – who was causing a few problems. The striker wriggled free on the left and forced a save from Ryan Rayner will a side-footed effort at the near post.

Lee Beeson then delivered a cracking cross from the left wing, but nobody was there to convert with the goal gaping.

The hosts were soon level, though, with Thurlbourne expertly dispatching a long range free kick into the top right corner with his trusty left peg. Rayner was at full stretch, but he had no chance of denying the Spalding ace.

Then came something of a flash point, with Town skipper Michael Hyem only booked for a knee-high challenge on Mark Jones. Josh Ford then shoved over the midfielder in retaliation and collected a yellow card of his own.

Sadly for Spalding, that was the end of Jones’ afternoon. He limped off with suspected knee ligament damage.

The Tulips did have a presentable chance to move 2-1 ahead before the break, but Dan Cotton was denied by a point-blank save from Rayner having been put through by Ford.

Spalding picked up where they left off in the early stages of the second period, with Beeson’s cross nodded just wide of his own post be a visiting defender.

But the hosts were stunned when half-time sub Joyce found a pocket of space in the penalty box to direct a downward header past the despairing dive of Roberts and into the far corner. The Spalding stopper got a hand on the effort, but couldn’t keep it out.

It was actually his final act of the game too, with Michael Duggan replacing the seemingly unwell keeper just past the hour.

From then on the away side seized control. Stuart Eason headed a great chance wide at the near post following a corner as they looked to seal a famous double.

The Tulips came again, though. Thurlbourne drew a top save from Rayner after robbing former King’s Lynn Town team-mate Pat Bexfield, while Lewis Webb blasted a 25-yard drive just over after a marauding run by sub Danny Hussey.

Then came the first of the dismissals, with veteran defender Hussey shown a straight red for an alleged kick as both teams awaited a Spalding corner.

Oliver followed minutes later when he bundled over a clean through Cotton in the closing stages. It mattered little for the away side, who almost grabbed a third with the final kick of the game when Eason crashed a deflected drive off Duggan’s near post.

Defeat will have wounded the Tulips somewhat, but they picked themselves up to enjoy a champagne-fuelled celebration after the final whistle.

Rayment’s men can no longer finish on 100 points for the season, but can still sign off in style with a trip to rivals Deeping Rangers on Easter Monday (3pm).

Tulips: Roberts (Duggan 62), Steadman, Thurlbourne, Watson, Stainfield, Webb, Beeson, Hall, Ford (Stevens 90), Jones (Hussey 33), Cotton. Not used: Ebdon.