Spalding United draw with Matlock Town in the FA Cup
Honours finished even in Jimmy Dean’s first match as Spalding United manager on Saturday.
The Tulips played out a goalless draw with Matlock in the FA Cup first qualifying round clash at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.
The newly-appointed boss was upbeat about his side's performance and was pleased to have kept a clean sheet after the Tulips had conceded 12 goals in their last four league games.
He said: "It was a game between two teams who cared.
"I thought we were really good without the ball and it was really important to keep a clean sheet for confidence and belief.
"I thought we tired towards the end and the fitness levels didn't look great which was why the distances and whatever wasn't as good for the last 20 minutes.
"We probably lost that little bit of quality when we tired. We maybe could have nicked it a couple of times but that quality will come with confidence over time."
Dean had brought three new faces into his Spalding squad after his appointment on Wednesday.
Spalding handed a start to the returning Lamine Sherif while there were debuts for newcomers Layton Ndukwu and Jordan Nicholson.
The Gladiators - who are at the foot of the Northern Premier League Premier Division table - included ex-Tulip Harrison Poulter in their line-up.
Spalding went into the cup clash on the back of four successive defeats and a scrappy opening period highlighted both teams' lack of confidence.
Joe West lofted an early free-kick onto the roof of the Spalding net before Poulter put an effort wide from Tomas Poole's cross to the back post.
Spalding came more into the game as the half wore on and Matlock had to scramble clear with Nicholson's waiting to pounce after Sam Cartwright had hooked a Ndukwu free-kick goalless.
Ndukwu fizzed another set piece just over the Matlock crossbar from distance before Jordan Graham tested Rogan Ravenhill with a decent strike from Jonny Ngandu's pass but the Matlock goalkeeper was equal to the effort.
A quick throw from Sherif then released Nicholson but his cross was cut out by Shaun Brisley as the opening period finished goalless.
Spalding came close to breaking the deadlock 10 minutes into the second half as Nicholson and Graham linked well with the former firing a shot inches wide.
Nicholson then teed up Ngandu who shot over before substitute Joe Nyahwema curled a shot into the arms of Ravenhill as the game finished goalless with the Tulips now facing a midweek replay on Tuesday night.
Dean added: "We've only had an hour-and-a-half with the players and they played a new shape with a different way of playing.
"They gave me everything which is a great start. That's a good place to be with the players.
"The three new lads haven't had a lot of game-time and, I'll be totally honest, I'm not familiar with all of the players in the squad yet.
"I don't know what I'm getting yet and that will be stuff that sorts itself out over the next week or so."
Spalding: Breeden, Ezewele, Warburton, Cartwright, Walker, Barker, Ndukwu (Nyahwema), Sherif, Graham (Winters), Ngandu, Nicholson (Draper). Subs not used: West (GK), Stainfield, Dawes, Bennett.
Attendance: 344.
