Spalding United draw with Quorn in the Southern League Premier Division Central

The spoils were shared after a cracking contest between Spalding United and Quorn on Tuesday night.

The two Southern League Premier Division Central title rivals served up an action-packed entertaining match with neither side being able to snatch the maximum points.

Spalding had struck first through Alfie Bendle but Zak Goodson equalised for the visitors who ended up happier with the point as the Tulips carved out some good chances but were unable to find the vital second goal.

Spalding went into the match on the back of Saturday's two-goal victory at Alvechurch with boss Jimmy Dean making just one change to his starting line-up with Matty Bondswell replacing Ben Blythe while Yusifu Ceesay returned on the substitutes' bench after missing the weekend win.

The match pitted the division's two top scoring teams against each other and Spalding got off to the perfect start by taking the lead inside two minutes.

The Quorn defence was pressured while playing out from the back and Jack Roberts nipped in to win possession before seeing his cross palmed out by visiting goalkeeper Tom Allsopp into the path of Bart Cybulski.

The Spalding frontman back-heeled the ball goalwards where a clearance off the line sent it into the path of Bendle who slotted home the opening goal.

It set the scene for an excellent first half of attacking end-to-end football with both sides creating some good chances.

Nicholson steered a dangerous Roberts cross just wide of the far post before Spalding skipper Liam Moore produced a series of excellent defensive blocks to thwart the visitors.

Roberts brought a flying save out of Allsopp from a free-kick after the Quorn goalkeeper had been cautioned for bringing down the Spalding attacker on the edge of the area.

Nicholson just failed to get on the end of a cracking cross from Cybulski before shooting over when well placed after linking up well with Dion Sembie-Ferris..

Goodson showed his intent with a sweet strike that rattled the post before bringing Quorn level five minutes before half-time.

Kai Fifield was allowed to run unchallenged across the penalty area before teeing up Goodson who unleashed a sublime finish into the far corner of the home net.

Spalding could still have regained the lead before half-time but Bendle saw his strike blocked as the teams went in at half-time on level terms.

The attacking intent of both teams continued after the break with home goalkeeper James Dadge getting down well to save a stinging free-kick from Goodson.

Moore then saw a deft header from a Bendle free-kick hit the Quorn crossbar while both Dan Lawlor and Sembie-Ferris tested Allsopp from distance but the Quorn goalkeeper held onto their efforts.

Roberts then got the wrong side of the Quorn defence but shot over from a tight angle before taking the ball under his control at the back post and teeing up Cybulski who dragged his shot wide.

Spalding continued to create the better chances with Moore twice seeing shots blocked from set pieces with Allsopp snatching one of the loose balls as Cybulski looked to pounce.

The Quorn goalkeeper then produced a superb save to claw away a deflected shot from Roberts that looked to be looping into the net before again doing well to keep out Sembie-Ferris' low drive.

Spalding kept pushing for the winning goal but Cybulski was unable to convert a late chance at the back post as the honours ended even.

Tulips: Dadge, Hart, Bondswell (Blythe), Moore, Johnson, Lawlor (Thompson), Roberts, Bendle, Sembie-Ferris, Cybulski (Clifton), Nicholson (Sano-Sani). Sub not used: Ceesay.