The Tulips were held to a 1-1 draw by promotion-chasers South Shields on Monday afternoon. A dramatic late equaliser courtesy of Maniche Sani saw Spalding salvage a point on the road against tough opposition.

It was a quiet start to the fixture with neither side being able to create a significant chance inside the first quarter of an hour. Flashes of fancy footwork from Ben Fowkes troubled his defender early on.

In the minutes that followed, star striker Bart Cybulski attempted a spectacular bicycle kick that was saved by Sheik in between the posts. Kelly also went close after steaming into the box, with his shot going just wide.

Last season’s top goalscorer, Paul Blackett, then went close on two occasions with two wayward attempts on Crook’s goal.

Fowkes proved to be a nuisance yet again before half time as he tested Sheik with a near-post shot that was impressively saved.

A goalless first half with many chances for either side prompted Spalding to make a change, with Maniche Sani coming on for Xavier-Jones.

Then, on 47 minutes, the Shields left-back Jordan Marshall unleashed a wonderful strike which found the top right corner to put the hosts 1-0 up.

The Mariners almost found a second through Blackett who played the ball into the box that was cleared away by Connor Johnson.

From the hour mark onwards, the Tulips pushed to find an equaliser with Fowkes almost clinching it if it wasn’t for a handful of heroic saves from Sheik. Sani played a ball through to the winger whose low driven shot was stopped by the Shields keeper.

With 15 minutes to play, fresh legs were brought onto the field in the form of Sembie-Ferris and Betteka who previously impressed on his home debut.

Then, in the 85th minute, Maniche Sani found the equaliser after the Mariners failed to clear the ball away from danger, with the substitute firing the ball into the back of the net.

Just two minutes later, the Tulips thought they had won it through Zaid Betteka, but the winger agonisingly found himself offside.

A dramatic end to the fixture almost saw Spalding walk away from Tyneside with all 3 points. We go again this Saturday against Southport at home, Come on You Tulips!

FT: South Shields 1-1 Spalding United

Written by Zakk Symonds

Photo: Kev Wilson