Missed opportunity.... Spalding 1, Alvechurch 2. (FA Trophy)
- Moley
- Oct 6, 2024
- 2 min read
So by now, JD will have had some quality training time with the lads, and today we hope to see the results. The FA Trophy is open to steps one to four in the National League system, and our visitors were well established in Southern Premier Central, albeit having lost their last two matches. Hoping to be secure at the back, with a formation employing five defenders, Spalding started strongly, with early crosses going in, mostly from the left, and a lofty target man to aim for. An improvement over some of the uncertain starts we have seen recently. At the other end, Tulips’ offside trap caught out our past player Sweeney several times, but as time went by, Alvechurch was beginning to snuff out our two main lines of attack, the left wing, and balls to Bartosz down the centre. By half time the corner stats were Spalding one, Visitors three. From one corner, keeper Breeden made a fine save from a high ball under severe pressure.
I moved my viewing point at the interval to get a closer view of Spalding’s expected early second half surge, but it didn’t happen this time. In fact, Alvechurch’s first goal came instead, a cross not cleared properly fell to the feet of an advancing forward. A sense of gloom settled over the faces around the touch line. However, powerful defensive headers, and not all by Staino, dealt with the long ball attacks in a half in which the ball spent too much time in the air. James Clifton, back to fitness, showed his willingness to do the hard yards in midfield.
Now the game was becoming scrappy, with little shape, but lots of effort and brief moments of niggle: Sweeney was sent off to the home supporter’s delight for a second yellow, after splatting our Staino (how dare he?) After two failed appeals for penalties, a cross from the right led to a near post header by the increasingly popular Nyawhema and a fine goal.
Fifteen minutes to go, a strong low sun behind the team, good use of the substitutes bench and all to play for. But then a hurried Warburton clearance was slammed into the net at very short range and we were a goal down again. Four minutes of added time was announced, and suddenly Spalding was awarded a penalty for a foul against Bartosz! The replay beckoned. But Cybulski’s low shot was saved, and heads dropped. In the final minute a Spalding shot appeared out of a goalmouth scramble, but went just wide. The final whistle blew.
By the time Alvechurch visit again, on 22th April, what kind of Spalding side will they meet? Forceful and ambitious or despairing and fearful? That will be the story of the season.
Photo Credit - Chris Lowndes
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