Tulips pay the penalty in first defeat

Spalding United 0
Cambridge City 2

The unbeaten run is over for Spalding United as two penalties saw Cambridge City to a 2-0 win on Saturday.
The key moment came in the 68th minute when Cambridge’s Ryan Ingrey beat two Spalding defenders and goalkeeper Michael Duggan to the ball on the edge of the area.
Nathan Stainfield got back to try and stop the ball being put into the empty net but only succeeded in bumping into the back of the striker.
The two-goal hero from last week was shown the red card before Daniel Cotton fired the spot kick low to Duggan’s right for the lead.
It was 2-0 four minutes later when Elliot Sandy slid in and fouled Cotton right on the edge of the area resulting in another penalty.
He went the same way from the spot and again, Duggan guessed right, but couldn’t keep the strike out.
It was a game of few chances on a bobbly pitched played in front of 350 at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
The Tulips thought they’d taken the lead in the first half after Lewis Hillard fed James Clifton in the area who expertly controlled, turned and finished, but he was ruled offside.
Hilliard also put Jones through on goal but he blazed over as the keeper came out.
Cambridge too created half chances before the match-winning quick fire double.
It should have been 3-0 late on but Jarid Robson was denied one-on-one by Duggan then by Sam Cartwright after the ball broke back to the striker as it did a third time but he dragged the shot wide.
“It’s disappointing and not a feeling we’re used to this season,” said Tulips manager Brett Whaley. “It was a difficult game and we felt at half time, though we’d not played well, there was nothing between the sides.
“In the second half the game turned on the penalty.
“On another day it’s you that incident goes for and you’re 1-0 up playing against ten men, it just didn’t this time. It was just a step too far.
“Another perspective is we again didn’t concede from open play and were pretty much in the game.
“Cambridge deserved their win and now it’s about getting back to winning ways.”
Spalding slipped from the Pitching In Northern Premier League Midland Division summit to third, two points behind Stamford and Halesowen who also have 48 points, but with a game in hand.
They will be looking to get back to winning ways as they travel to Butthole Lane on Saturday to face Shepshed Dynamo in a 3pm kick off.
“It’s a real test,” Whaley said. “They’ve a lot of quality and in form, but sometimes after a result like Saturday a real test is what you need.”
Tulips: Duggan, Hart, Bucciero, Barker, Stainfield, Cartwright, Jones (Peters 80), Clifton (Draper 75), Sandy, Broccoli, L Hillard (T Hilliard 45). Subs not used: Moreman, Edge.
Attendance: 350.