TULIPS: Tearful keeper gifts leaders easy victory
SPALDING UNITED 0 MICKLEOVER SPORTS 5 (Martin 6, Ashton 7, 27 & pen 40, Barrow 19)
DISTRAUGHT Michael Emery gifted the league leaders what must be their easiest win of the season.
The Tulips keeper, who was left devastated by the death of Keith Alexander last week (see page 63), was at fault for all five goals as Mickleover gobbled up a routine three points on Saturday.
Emery was in tears at half time and was promptly substituted by Richard Scott, who admitted that he probably should have hauled his stopper off sooner.
Player/boss Scott said: "Michael was very close to Keith and I think the minute of silence before the game got to him.
"What more can you say, he was at fault for all five of the goals and I should have seen the alarm bells.
"He's a good keeper normally and this kind of display was out of character for him.
"I feel for him but wish he'd let me know sooner, all of the hard work put in before the game went out the window after the first two goals went in.
"We can't afford mistakes like that against anyone in this league, let alone the leaders.
"As a team we were totally demoralised at half time. Luckily Mickleover took their foot of the gas after the break, or it could have been a bit worse for us."
The Sir Halley Stewart immaculately observed a minute's silence for their former striker Alexander prior to kick-off - but Mickleover were in no mood for pleasantries once the first whistle sounded.
Danny Martin's free-kick, taken from way out on the touchline, found its way into Emery's net after missing everyone in the middle.
It was 2-0 less than 60 seconds later when Karl Ashton waltzed onto a through ball to roll the ball past Emery, who had raced way off his line.
The Spalding stopper did make two smart stops to deny Alex Steadman and Kieran O'Connell, before making another horrible gaffe.
A whipped corner from the right looked to be food and drink for Emery but he flapped at the cross, allowing Lee Barrow to force the ball over the line.
The fourth was a real howler as the excellent Ashton was inexplicably allowed to head the ball from Emery's grasp before tapping home his second.
At the other end, the tireless David de Oliveira refused to wave the white flag and he was unlucky to see a rasping drive fly inches wide of David Clarke's post.
But the half ended with another moment of madness from the Tulips keeper, who flattened Eric Graves for a clear penalty. Ashton duly converted to wrap up his treble.
The second half was a non-event, with Mickleover subbing off their better players.
Billy Oliver did rattle the bar with a header, but that was as good as it got for Spalding in what was a truly woeful display.
Tulips: Emery (Flintoft 46), Evans, Wetton, Cox (Field 66), Legendre, Chagger (Forbes 66), Oliver, Toyne, Fitzgerald, de Oliveira, Brown. Not used: Smith, Tuccillo.TULIPS defender Nathan Wetton was involved in a head on car crash on Saturday night.
His condition was unclear as we went to press.
Saturday - Witton Albion v Tulips (3pm).
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Weather for Spalding
Friday 25 May 2012
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