Spalding United lose to Leiston in the Southern League Premier Division Central
Spalding United were left to rue the 'fine margins' of football after suffering a home defeat in the Southern League Premier Division Central on Tuesday night.
The Tulips went down to a 2-1 home reversal against visiting Leiston at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.
However, Jimmy Dean's side created enough chances to have taken something from the contest but were also punished for errors at the other end by their Suffolk visitors.
Dean said: "The performance levels were good and I felt we created more chances than the last two games when we won 2-0 and 3-0.
"We gave away three chances and they scored two which you can't do. I thought they were very good in the final third and clinical.
"You can't give chances away like we did and then keep missing chances throughout the game.
"As much as we made two poor defensive errors for their goals, it isn't just on those guys because we've missed an awful lot of chances.
"Their keeper was also outstanding and some of his saves were top drawer."
Spalding went into the match without the suspended duo of Connor Brown and Kyle Barker and handed debuts to Kieron Freeman and Khanya Leshabela.
Leshabela went close for the Tulips in the opening exchanges as he fired wide before Leiston goalkeeper Will Johnson made the first of several fine saves to keep out a Connor Tomlinson header from Lamine Sherif's cross.
George Quantrell went close for the visitors after trying his luck from distance as a clearance from Spalding goalkeeper Tony Breeden fell to him only for his effort to go just past the post.
Kyron Clements headed just over for the visitors from a corner before Bart Cybulski went close at the other end from Freeman's cross.
Johnson again did well to keep out a volley from Tomlinson before Lewis Hilliard hit a shot just over the crossbar.
A superb stop from Johnson denied Cybulski at close range before the former King's Lynn frontman bundled the ball home only for his effort to be ruled out for hand-ball.
Leiston then struck the opening goal a minute before the break as Jamar Loza latched onto a long clearance from Johnson with the ball being deflected into the path of Ben Fowkes who swept home the opening goal.
The Blues then doubled their lead six minutes into the second half as Quantrall's long ball forward saw Loza beat the offside trap before firing his finish past Breeden.
The second goal sparked a strong response from Spalding with Clements blocking an effort from Hilliard while Johnson safely gathered Leshabela's strike from distance.
The Tulips then halved the deficit with 18 minutes remaining as Cybulski turned smartly before arrowing his finish into the bottom corner of the Leiston net for his sixth goal in as many games since signing for Spalding.
With Tyler Winters and Maniche Sani now added to the Spalding attack, the former headed one chance over the crossbar before Sani sent another effort wide.
Leshabela then shot straight at Johnson from the edge of the box as Spalding were unable to find an equaliser.
Dean added: "It felt a bit like the Banbury game where, whichever side scored first, would have the best chance of winning.
"We kept playing good football but we're learning that this league is all about fine margins.
"If you're at it and you get that little bit of the rub of the green, which we'd had in the previous two games, then you win but, if you don't, then anyone can beat anyone which has been proven."
The defeat leaves Spalding one point and one place above the relegation zone ahead of a free weekend of league action.