Previously at Spalding...

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DJ
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Joined: 04 May 2011, 20:51

Previously at Spalding...

Post by DJ » 06 Nov 2021, 13:07

Here are two dramatic earlier visits to Tulip-land:
F. A. Cup 2nd Qualifying Round – Saturday, 27th September, 2003
Spalding Utd 1 Halesowen Town 2


The Yeltz played their “get out of jail” card to progress into the 3rd qualifying round and take their FA Cup prize money to the £7,000 mark on the same ground that they won promotion to the Southern Premier League back in 1990, writes DJ.

But the result masked a poor performance from the Yeltz who had to rely on Spalding being reduced to nine men by two red cards before pulling a last-gasp winner out of the bag.

After a tentative start, Jason Ashby chased a long free-kick from Asa Charlton in the 13th minute to force Kevin Cross into a blocking save. Two minutes later Spalding’s Lee Hudson hit just over from 10 yards when Paul Watts headed on Andy Stanhope’s cross. Simon Hollis burst through from Halesowen’s midfield and almost opened the scoring in the 16th minute but was denied by a fine save from Cross when clear on goal. Watts then drove wide for the Tulips on 19 minutes after being set up by Stanhope.

Lee Sowerby was booked in the 26th minute by upsetting referee Martin with dissent and was then controversially sent off on the half-hour for blocking the ball when Halesowen attempted to take a free-kick quickly.

Despite the setback, lower league Spalding took a 37th minute lead when WATTS marked his debut by cutting in from the right to beat Mark Gayle with a 20-yard shot into the top corner. With the Tulips in bloom, Hudson blasted high from a free-kick in the 43rd minute after Micky Nuttall headed on and Steve Appleby hit over from 25-yards a minute before half-time.

Ten-man Spalding were in no mood to surrender their lead in the second half with Halesowen making little impression and it was Dan Jones who rescued the visitors on the hour by making a timely interception from Hudson in the penalty area. Substitute Leon Mitchell won Halesowen’s first corner in the 65th minute but Hollis’s kick was completely wasted and Hudson went on to curl just wide from 20-yards on the break for the home side.

Just when it seemed disjointed Halesowen were bowing out of the Cup, CHARLTON levelled the scores by heading home directly from substitute Richard Kavanagh’s corner kick in the 74th minute. Hollis then lobbed just wide from 20 yards but the match concluded dramatically in the fourth minute of injury time when Halesowen were awarded a free-kick on the edge of the Spalding area. Hudson was shown the red-card for dissent and encroaching from the defensive wall and when HOLLIS re-took the kick his direct shot dribbled into the corner of the Spalding net for Halesowen’s winning goal.

On leaving the field referee Martin was jostled by the angry home camp who felt harshly treated by his performance.

Spalding Utd: Cross; Vince, Barnes, Greetham, Thompson, Hudson, Stanhope, Appleby, Nuttall, Sowerby, Watts (Eldridge 82). Unused Subs: Keeble, Bailey, Taylor
Halesowen Town: Gayle; Colwell, Charlton, Grocutt, Jones, Baker, Hollis, Ashby, Hallam (Mitchell 56), Skidmore (Spencer 72), Small (Kavanagh 66). Unused Subs: Smith, Lowe.
Referee: P. Martin (Wellingborough) Attendance: 393
Sent Off: Sowerby (30), Hudson (90)
Booked: Jones (8), Sowerby (26), Vince (35), Stanhope (78), Charlton (81).

Beazer Homes Midland Division - Wednesday 25th April 1990
Spalding United 2 Halesowen Town 3


Yeltz beat Spalding 3-2 to clinch promotion to the Beazer Premier for the first time in the club’s history. Club Secretary Harry Rudge said “There was euphoria on the bus back. It is the highest the club has ever been.”

No-one deserves this success more than Rudge who has been the club’s inspiration for the last 50 years. Yeltz now travel to Willenhall on Monday night needing only one point to take the championship.The Yeltz philosophy throughout the season has been to ignore what the other teams are doing and keep on winning and they deserve nothing less than that crowning glory.

Yeltz took the lead at Spalding through new boy Timmy Langford. Andy Pearce scored from the penalty spot to put Yeltz two up and Paul Hunter scored a brilliant individual goal to give the visitors a 3-0 cushion at half-time.

Spalding launched a determined fightback after the break and pulled back two goals. But Halesowen’s nerve held and they left with three valuable points. The pressure was starting to get to some of the players. Even veteran Malcolm Hazelwood showed signs of nerves, missing a second half penalty. Nuneaton’s chance of catching Yeltz evaporated when they dropped two points at Grantham.

The quality of the squad John Morris has built up this season is reflected in the number of scouts from league clubs seen buzzing around the Grove on Saturday. Morris says: “People tell me Derby, West Ham, Sheffield United and Wolves were all here.” Several players have already been linked with league clubs - centre half Andy Pearce played for Coventry reserves against Blackburn. Lightning forward Paul Hunter has also attracted league interest and played for Sheffield United reserves against Nottingham Forest.

Yeltz play their remaining two games at Willenhall on Monday (30th) and finish the season with a difficult game at Grantham on May 5th.

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