Spalding United and Rotherham United share the spoils in a pre-season friendly

Spalding secured their best result of pre-season so far after sharing the spoils with League One side Rotherham United on Saturday.

The Millers brought a strong side to the Sir Halley Stewart ground but had to settle for a share of the spoils after an excellent Spalding performance which bodes well for the forthcoming Southern League campaign.

Lewis Darlington had given Spalding an early lead before Sam Nombe equalised for the Millers in an entertaining pre-season clash.

The Tulips handed a first start to young goalkeeper Jake West against a Millers side which included their record signings Christ Tiehi and Sam Nombe.

Rotherham boss Steve Evans had taken a different squad to play Spalding's new league rivals Stamford 24 hours earlier as they recorded a 4-2 victory at the Zeeco Stadium.

But the League One visitors found themselves a goal behind after just six minutes of Saturday's match at the Sir Halley Stewart.

Sam Bennett and Darlington linked well with the former Peterborough youngster latching onto a through ball.

Although Darlington's initial shot was saved by Cameron Dawson in the Rotherham goal, the Spalding striker was first to fire home the rebound.

Goalkeeper West was then called into action with a smart save to keep out a free-kick from Joe Hungbo at full stretch before Rotherham levelled in the 13th minute.

A mix-up at the back was capitalised upon and Nombe found himself in space to slot his finish past West.

The former Exeter City striker then went close to putting the visitors ahead as he shot just wide from Alex MacDonald's cross.

Spalding responded with Lewis White heading wide at the back post from Jonny Ngandu's free-kick before the summer signing from Kettering was called into action at the other end with a vital tackle to thwart Nombe.

Nombe lifted another shot over the home crossbar before Hungbo curled another free-kick just past the post.

West then got down well to cling onto an acrobatic effort from Nombe to ensure the sides went in on level terms at the break.

Rotherham looked to impose themselves on proceedings early in the second half with Nathan Stainfield needing to make a last-ditch tackle to deny the Millers with Cameron Humphreys shooting over from the resultant corner.

Spalding then went close as half-time substitute Tyler Winters won possession before finding fellow replacement Jordan Graham who teed up Darlington and his curling shot brought a superb save out of Dawson in the Rotherham goal.

Ngandu then whipped a free-kick just over the Rotherham crossbar before the Millers went close on a couple more occasions.

Hungbo fizzed in a dangerous cross which was well dealt with by West before Sam Warburton made a crucial block from Josh Kayode's strike.

The lively Hungbo fired another effort just over the home crossbar before Hakeem Odoffin turned a cross wide of the Spalding goal at full stretch.

Darlington was then denied a clear run at goal by a vital covering tackle from MacDonald after a slick Spalding move as both sides pushed for a winning goal as the match entered the final 15 minutes.

Rotherham came closest when a good link-up involving Reece James and Hungbo saw the ball pulled back into the path of their trialist who hit the crossbar with his shot.

James then did well to block a shot from Tyrone Lewthwaite before Rotherham twice struck the home crossbar in injury-time as the honours finished even after a decent contest.

Spalding: West, Dawes, Warburton, Barker, Stainfield, White, Ngandu, Johnson, Langford, Darlington, Bennett. Subs used: Lewthwaite, Winters, Graham, Ezewele, Chettle.

Rotherham: Dawson, James, Nombe, MacDonald, Hungbo, Odoffin, Humphreys, Tiehi, Kayode, Clarke, Trialist. Subs: Phillips, Hatton, Douglas, Ayres, Scothern, Trialist, Gardner.

Attendance: 410.