TULIPS: Pat ‘ecstatic’ at first Spalding win
Red card: But Josh Ford's dismissal didn't prove costly for Spalding United on Saturday. Photo (MIKE DAVISON): SG180212-584MD
SPALDING UNITED 2 (Miller 51, James 77) NEWPORT PAGNELL 1 (Marsala 2): GUTS, determination and hard work have been three elements sadly lacking in Spalding’s performances this season – but that wasn’t the case on Saturday.
For 45 minutes it looked like more of the same. Dom Marsala’s early opener was the least Newport Pagnell deserved at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.
But it was a different story after the break, with the excellent Rick Miller levelling with the first goal of his second stint with the Tulips.
And not even the harsh dismissal of right back Josh Ford could derail the hosts, who went on to seal all three points with a classy Tom James winner 13 minutes from time.
With veteran player/coach Danny Hussey leading by example with a stellar showing at left back, Pat Rayment couldn’t have wished for a more uplifting first UCL Premier Division win as boss.
“The first half wasn’t great, but I’m ecstatic with what I saw after that,” admitted Rayment, who ended a personal Pagnell hoodoo in the process. “The gameplan worked and we out-battled them, which is hard to do.
“To a man, the lads worked their backsides off.
“As a manager, it’s now down to me to make sure we play like that every week.”
There was no sign of an uplifting Spalding showing early on, as Marsala rounded keeper Nick Conroy to slot home.
Darren Dykes, normally a lethal finisher, then fluffed an open goal and Marsala hit the bar as Pagnell threatened to run riot.
They were made to rue their profligacy, as Miller – who led the line superbly – broke clear to slot a left-footed effort inside the near post and haul the Tulips level.
Ford was given his marching orders seconds later for a professional foul, but that only served to galvanise Spalding further.
Miller was denied a carbon-copy second by Josh McAdoo, before the move of the match yielded a winner.
Danny French’s sensational pass released James, who drilled a fine finish into the far corner.
Pagnell almost levelled through Darren Lynch in the last of seven minutes of stoppage time, but his header dropped inches over.
Tulips: Conroy, Ford, Hussey, Porter, Fuff, Ashton, French, Bolland, Smith, Miller, James. Not used: O’Loughlin, Lyon, Brady.
• Sat: S&L Corby v Tulips (3pm).
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Spalding
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 24 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 23 mph
Wind direction: East
Your view
Please sign in to be able to comment on this story.