Spalding United lose to AFC Telford in the Southern League Premier Division Central
Spalding suffered their third successive Southern League debut in their first match since the departure of manager Elliot Sandy on Saturday.
The Tulips went down to a narrow 1-0 reversal against the visiting Bucks in their Premier Division Central clash at the Sir Halley Stewart ground.
It was much improved performance from the Tulips but, after a goalless opening period, they fell behind 11 minutes into the second half to a goal from Ricardo Dinanga which proved decisive.
Assistant boss James Clifton took charge of the team and he was absent due to injury from the starting line-up which was also missing the suspended Sam Warburton.
The Tulips handed a debut to newcomer Joe Nyahwema who has previously had spells with Burton Albion and Long Eaton.
Visiting Telford arrived with a win, draw and a defeat under their belts from the opening three games while Spalding had suffered 5-0 and 2-0 losses in their most recent outings against Kettering and Bromsgrove Sporting.
The Bucks dominated the opening 15 minutes of the contest and had the ball in the net during the early exchanges but Byron Moore's effort was disallowed for offside after goalkeeper Tony Breeden had saved well from Kyle Storer's initial strike.
Home centre-half Lewis White then produced a vital block to keep out Ellis Brown's goalbound effort before Spalding started to grow more into the contest.
Jonny Ngandu was at the heart of their promising attacking raids and he teed up Nyahwema but his effort was blocked by the covering Storer.
Dinanga flashed an effort over the home crossbar before Nganda had a shot safely held by Brandon Hall in Telford goal.
Tyler Winters then saw a glancing header from a corner cleared off the line before Breeden made a flying save at the other end to keep out Dinanga's strike.
Ngandu and Nyahwema again linked well for Spalding with the latter shooting over while Breeden had to fingertip a late first half effort from Brown to safety as the opening period finished goalless.
The Spalding goalkeeper was immediately called into action after the break with a superb save from Sam Whittall's goalbound header following a Telford corner.
The Tulips went straight back on the attack and a weaving run from Nyahwema created an opening for Jordan Graham but his effort was blocked at close range by Hall.
Nyahwema and Ngandu were again at the heart of Spalding's next raid as they created an opening for substitute Danny Draper but a superb tackle by Whittall denied the Tulips midfielder as he lined up his shot.
The Tulips then found themselves behind in the 56th minute as the ball was worked to Dinanga at the back post and he drilled home a low finish into the far corner of the Spalding net.
Winters came close to equalising shortly after but was denied by a fine save from Hall who kept out his free-kick which was heading for the top corner of the Telford net.
Spalding continued to threaten as Nyahwema again tricked and teased an opening but his low shot was gathered by Hall while Nathan Stainfield headed just over from a Glenn Walker corner.
The equaliser failed to materialise though despite some sustained late pressure as Spalding failed to score for the third successive league game.
Spalding: Breeden, Ezewele, Walker, Hilliard (Draper), Stainfield (Dawes), White, Ngandu, Barker, Graham (Bennett), Winters (Darlington), Nyahwema.
