Reaction from Spalding United boss Jimmy Dean after their draw with Stamford AFC

Manager Jimmy Dean admitted one of his best-ever Christmas' would have been ruined if Spalding United had lost at Stamford on Boxing Day.

The Tulips needed a late equaliser from Bart Cybulski to earn a share of the spoils with their Southern League Premier Division Central neighbours.

Rob Morgan had earlier given Stamford the lead with a penalty before seeing a second spot kick saved after the break by Spalding goalkeeper Tony Breeden.

Dean said: "I think it was a good point for us because we were a goal down with not long left and they've also missed a second penalty. I didn't think there was much in it on the balance of play.

"But I'd had one of my best-ever Christmas' though with my family. It was fantastic to be with special people.

"But that would have gone out of the window if we had lost. It would have ruined my Christmas because that's how much football means to me.

"We haven't lost the game which I feel is really important when you're playing against good sides."

Stamford had started the brighter of the two teams and, after Jack Duffy had missed a one-on-one in the opening 20 seconds, Morgan gave them the lead.

The Stamford skipper could have doubled his side's lead after the break but his penalty following a Cybulski hand-ball was saved by Breeden with Dean feeling both decisions were harsh.

He added: "Both penalty decisions were very contentious.

"I felt the first one was harsh and I thought Bart's hands were in a natural position for the second one.

"It was probably justice done when Tony saved the penalty and it gave us the catalyst to kick on.

"We made a couple of tactical adjustments which helped us get back into the game."

Dean was disappointed with how his side started the game and felt Stamford rose to the occasion more than his charges in the first half.

He commented: "Stamford started a lot better than us. They were first to everything and wanted it a lot more than us and half-time probably came at a better time for us than them but I felt it was the opposite way around in the second half.

"Stamford have a group of players though who have played in this derby a few times and they understand what it is all about.

"We've got a group of new lads who took the first 10 minutes to understand how much this game means to both sets of fans and each club.

"We've got to understand that, although we're in a good vein of form, we're not at the stage yet where you can just turn up and win games, particularly against sides like Stamford who do understand how meaningful the derby is.

"They've got to come back to our place now though later in the season and there certainly won't be that mentality then."

Dean was also full of praise for both sets of fans as a crowd of 685 came to the Zeeco Stadium for thre derby duel.

He said: "Both sets of supporters were great.

"The Stamford fans gave me some stick but you don't mind that because all is fair in love and war.

"I thought the Spalding fans were fantastic. They kept pulling us and pushing us towards the equaliser and, when that net rippled at the end, it was a fantastic moment.

"We want loads more of them and we're working towards it."

Spalding have a game with Bromsgrove Sporting on Saturday (3pm).