Whaley had plenty to be pleased about despite freak early goal sentencing Spalding United to a derby defeat

Stamford 1 Spalding United 0

A bizarre goal after just 18 seconds sentenced Spalding United to a 1-0 derby defeat at Stamford on Saturday.

Jack Duffy’s speculative shot from distance hit a bobble and diverted over Tulips’ keeper Michael Duggan, who had already dived to collect what he thought would be a routine stop.

It proved to be the only goal of a close contest, which leaves the Daniels fourth in the Pitching In NPL Midlands Division and chasing promotion, while Spalding slip to tenth.

Tulips’ boss Brett Whaley was happy enough with what he saw from his side, despite the defeat – which was played out in front of a bumper crowd of 669 – and felt a draw would have been a fair result.

“They started well and got that freak goal,” said Whaley. “They then put us under a lot of pressure.

“But we defended well and I was pretty pleased at half time.

“We knew that the pressure would flip to them in the closing stages as they’re chasing promotion and we certainly created a lot of chances.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t have the quality to take them. It’s been a bit of a theme for us lately that we’ve had less of the ball but better chances.

“I felt perhaps it was a 0-0 game, but they got that luck with the early goal.

“I was impressed with the tempo and aggression that we showed late on, but we can’t just play for 20 minutes and expect to win.”

Spalding went into the derby without Ben Starkie, who was on international duty with Tanzania after receiving his first call-up, and Jordan Macleod after he was sent out on loan to Bourne Town.

They couldn’t have made a worse start, with Duffy’s effort bouncing over Duggan and giving Stamford the ideal base to kick on.

Duggan was busy in the early exchanges as the hosts piled on the pressure, but Jonathon Margetts sent their best chance wide.

The returning Stefan Broccoli curled an effort wide as Spalding hit back, but Duggan was called up again to deny both Margetts and Cosmos Matwasa as the Daniels looked to double their lead.

Spalding can consider themselves unlucky not to pinch a point in the closing stages, though, with Ben Seymour-Shove seeing a lob come back off the post seven minutes from time and Nathan Stainfield seeing a header ripple the side-netting moments later.

It wasn’t to be, though, as the Daniels avenged their 3-2 loss from earlier in the season.

Tulips: Duggan, Hart (Floyd), Bucci (Lynch 86), Marshall, Stainfield, Cartwright, Edge (Nassunculo 65), Koroma, Smith, Broccoli, Seymour-Shove.

Attendance: 669.