A youthful Spalding United side found revitalised Chasetown too much to handle at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field tonight (Tuesday).

After conceding a goal from a corner ten minutes before half-time, the Tulips were finally beaten by two goals late in the second half, the first coming after what appeared to be head injury to Kegan Everington.

But in truth, Lewis Thorogood's side never looked scoring against opponents who have no collected ten points out of the last 12 under recently appointed manager Mark Swann.

On a night when Tulips' full back James Hugo made his 100th appearance for the club, a pre-match presentation to the 20-year-old defender took place prior to kick off.

But six minutes after the kick-off, it was Spalding's longest-serving player Michael Duggan who had to come to his side's rescue, saving twice from Chasetown's Liam Kirton and Jack Langston when they were set up by team-mate Will Whieldon.

When James O'Neill headed a corner for the side from Staffordshire on target but wide, it was clear that Spalding's defence would face a siege for most of the match.

Despite having Josh Spencer back at the heart of the home side's back line in what was his first game since February 1, the home side's defence looked fragile and certain to concede goals.

But after holding Chasetown at bay, Spalding were awarded a free kick just outside the 12-yard box.

Everington's low shot was scrambled away by the visitors in what was to be the home side's only effort on goal in the first half.

At the other end, a quick counter-attack for Chasetown after Everington lost possession in his own half ended with Scholars' striker George Cater spraying a shot across the Spalding goal.

Two quick bookings for the visitors, Cocks for a foul on Hugo and Cater for his part in a flare-up when Spalding were ushering the ball out of play, appeared to slow Chasetown's momentum.

But when Jack Langston's 25-yard half-volley was deflected behind for a corner, the resulting set-piece saw O'Neill loop a volley beyond Duggan and into the top left-hand corner of the Tulips' net.

It could have been 2-0 to Chasetown before the break had Duggan not crowded out Liam Kirton when the Scholars' striker ran onto a through-ball inside the penalty box.

Thorogood made a change at half-time, with young Lincoln City trainee Tobias Liversidge replacing the injured Jan Yeomans as Gianluca Bucci was pushed back from holding midfield to central defence alongside Spencer.

Early in the second half, Duggan was alert again to keep out a Jack Langston free kick after Spencer had given away a foul just outside the Spalding box.

But the substitution appeared to made Spalding a more solid unit, with Liversedge forming a three-man attacking midfield behind Jack Smith.

Unfortunately, no clear-cut chances could be created and when George Couzens gave away a free kick 13 minutes from time, Langston forced Duggan to make another save.

Jack Smith came close to an equaliser when he turned onto a throw-in, only to steer his low shot wide.

Then Everington was set up with a shot on goal by Lewis Smith but, unfortunately, it was hit wide.

Chasetown's second goal followed quickly as the Tulips' midfield stopped in expectation of a whistle when Everington went down injured, only for referee Shaun Gregory to wave "play on".

The visitors latched onto the ball and a cross from Alex Melbourne ran on to Cater who drove a heavily deflected shot past Duggan to make it 2-0 to the visitors.

A shaken Spalding had no time to clear their heads before Chasetown substitute Joshua Cooke broke at pace and set up Cater for rebounded finish to end the game as a contest.

In stoppage time, Cater almost claimed his hat-trick with a shot outside the box which Duggan managed to keep out.

MATCH STATS

SPALDING UNITED

4-2-3-1: Duggan; Floyd, Spencer, Yeomans (sub Liversidge 45 mins), Hugo; Everington, Bucci; Burrell, Couzens, L.Smith; J. Smith (sub Brooks 80 mins). Subs not used: Ramsden, Masumbuko, Frain

CHASETOWN

4-4-2: Pond; Deakin, Wynter, O'Neill, Melbourne; Currithers, Langston (sub Beaks 88 mins), Whieldon, Cocks (sub Reid 80 mins); Kirton (sub Cooke 75 mins), Cater. Subs not used: Curtis, Taylor.

REFEREE

Shaun Gregory.

GOALS

O'Neill (35 mins, 0-1); Cater (84 mins, 0-2); Cater (87 mins, 0-3).

BOOKINGS

Burrell, Cocks (fouls), Cater (unsporting conduct), Hugo (dissent).

ATTENDANCE

94

STAR MAN

Michael Duggan - It may have been James Hugo's 100th appearance for Spalding, but the Tulips' goalkeeper once again showed why the club would be totally lost without him. Duggan made crucial saves throughout the game and prevented the scoreline from looking a lot worse for a side that is now without a win in their last six matches.

WHO'S NEXT?

Stamford (A) - Saturday.

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