Spalding United’s five-match unbeaten run came to a painful end in Lancashire on Saturday as Chorley scored in the 89th minute to claim a 2-1 victory.
The defeat was the Tulips’ first since August 22 and halted a run that had brought 13 points and lifted Jimmy Dean’s side up the National League North table. The match attracted an attendance of 1,310.
Late blow decides tight contest
There was little to separate the sides during a goalless first half in what was described as a niggly encounter. Chorley moved ahead after 56 minutes when Sam Fielding found the net with a long-range strike.
Spalding appeared to have rescued a point in the 81st minute. Substitute Mani Sani reached Dan Barton’s cross and equalised, giving the visitors hope of extending their unbeaten sequence.
That hope lasted only until the closing stages. Chorley won a corner, and Mike Calveley reacted quickest in a goalmouth scramble to head the winning goal in the 89th minute.
Spalding manager Jimmy Dean said the game had been difficult to watch and that Chorley had imposed the style of contest they wanted. He also said his players had worked hard, although the team had needed to control possession more effectively at times.
“There wasn’t much in the game and it wasn’t pleasant on the eye,” he said.
“Both sides dug in and it was played more on Chorley’s terms than ours and was more how they wanted to play.”
Dean acknowledged that the equaliser had briefly shifted momentum towards Spalding, but said the decisive corner was avoidable. The manager had warned his players before the match about Chorley’s threat from set-pieces.
“We worked our goal really well and I thought momentum might have been with us then but we gave away a soft corner,” Dean said.
“We knew they presented an enormous threat from set-pieces. It was a scramble in the goalmouth and then I saw the net go.”
Injuries add to Spalding’s concerns
The Tulips were already without last season’s leading scorer, Jack Roberts. Dean said he expected Roberts to be unavailable for three months because of his injury.
Two other Spalding players also suffered knocks during the match and were due to have scans. The source report does not identify those players or give a diagnosis.
Despite the result, Dean praised the team’s commitment and urged the squad to remain united during a demanding season.
“I can’t fault the boys’ effort at all but at times we needed to put our foot on the ball a bit better than we did,” he said. “We won’t have it all our way this season but we need to stick together.”
FA Cup focus turns to Bury Town
Spalding’s next challenge is in the FA Cup, with the Tulips travelling to Bury Town on Saturday for a third qualifying-round tie.
The Southern League side proved difficult opposition for Spalding last season, although the Tulips won both meetings by a single goal. Dean said the cup match would be treated as an important fixture and that his team wanted to progress.
“It’s a big game for us and we will be treating it very seriously. It’s a game we want to win,” Dean said.
Spalding have strengthened their squad before the tie with the loan arrival of Oli Rose from Peterborough United. The versatile defender can also operate in midfield and has National League and National League North experience from his time with Scunthorpe United.
Rose played a significant part in Scunthorpe’s promotion-winning 2024/25 campaign. His arrival gives Dean another option as the Tulips prepare for the cup match while managing injuries within the squad.