WASTEFUL finishing cost the Tulips dear as they gave promotion-chasing Sheffield a real run for their money on Saturday.

The scoreline suggests a comfortable passage for the home team, but Richard Scott's charges were in the hunt throughout and deserved at least a share of the points.

A number of Sheffield natives even suggested that this was the best Spalding side that they had ever encountered, but that sentiment won't help the Tulips in their bid for UniBond League First Division South survival.

Spalding boss Scott said: "We had four unbelievable chances in the first half and I couldn't believe we went in 2-0 down.

"It's really encouraging to go away to such a tough venue and create so much.

"I think we had 13 attempts to their four, so that says it all. With a bit more confidence and self-belief we could have won."

Despite a very sticky pitch and foggy conditions, both teams served up good football and the play was from end to end for the most part.

Sheffield played a direct game, hoisting the ball high for their towering forwards to latch onto.

They always looked dangerous on attack but generally the Tulips' defence combated the challenge well with Carl Piergianni and Victor Legendre in fine form.

The Tulips were first to show in attack with Bamoussa Cisse having two good efforts before the home team took a sixth-minute lead through Matt Roney's scrambled effort.

The lead was doubled ten minutes later, Steven Wooley volleying home after working a crisp one-two sequence with Roney.

But the Tulips dug in deep and carved out some chances of their own.

Mid-way through the opening half 'keeper Leigh Walker was at full stretch to turn a Luke Forbes free-kick round the post and skipper Andy Toyne somehow missed an open goal three minutes before the interval.

Early in the second half Michael Emery did superbly well to get a hand to Brian Cusworth's lob.

But in another sustained attack Ashley Longstaff converted at the far post to put the game beyond the Tulips' reach. Spalding continued to battle and some reward came at the death with Stu King's firm near post header.

Tulips: Emery, Cox (Hone 84), Brown, Oliver, Legendre, Piergianni, Forbes (de Oliveira 58), Toyne, Cisse (Tuccillo 58), Mowbray, King. Not used: Walker, Drury.