Spalding United draw with AFC Telford United in the Southern League

A strong second half showing helped Spalding United pick up an excellent point at title-chasing AFC Telford on Saturday.

Liam Moore equalised for the Tulips after the break following Matty Stenson's first half opener for the Bucks to ensure the spoils were shared in the Southern League Premier Division Central clash.

The draw leaves Jimmy Dean's side four points adrift of the play-off places with four matches of the regular campaign remaining.

Dean said: "It was a game of two halves and I had a big frustration at half-time.

"They were better than us because we weren't doing the stuff which we had been told to do.

"The distances weren't close enough and we weren't transitioning hard enough or picking up second balls.

"I thought Telford had a decent hold of the game without creating loads of chances.

"We reacted really well to their goal though and the second half was then a bit of tit for tat before we made a triple substitution where we became really dominant."

Spalding had made the trip to the New Bucks Head on the back of three successive victories while Telford were unbeaten in the previous 11 games.

The hosts had taken an 18th minute lead in style as Stenson, with his back to goal, chested a cross before beating Spalding goalkeeper Aaron Chapman with a superb overhead kick.

Spalding could have been level within four minutes as Dion Sembie-Ferris found himself in a one-on-one where he was denied by home goalkeeper Brandon Hall with Kieron Freeman hitting the post with a follow-up.

The home side then had a penalty appeal turned down for hand-ball after Dan Lawlor then made a vital block to thwart an effort from Oluwasegun Lawal as the Bucks took the lead into the break.

Spalding thought they had equalised six minutes after the break but Jack Roberts saw his effort ruled out for offside.

Bart Cybulski, Maniche Sani and Joe Nyahwema were then introduced for James Clifton, Freeman and Roberts shortly after with Spalding's leveller coming five minutes after their arrivals when Lawlor's corner was bundled home by Moore.

Telford looked to respond and Remi Walker fired a shot over before another offside flag denied the Tulips as Nyahwema raced clear onto Sani's through ball.

Nyahwema then tested Hall with another shot before Lawal went close with a header at the other end as the honours eventually ended even in front of a crowd of 1,446.

Dean added: "I felt we had our heels stuck in the ground a little bit and weren't getting enough pressure on the ball and that was what we were trying to do with the impact of the substitutes.

"Joe has really impacted well, Mani's given us some energy and Bart got hold of the ball to stop it coming back a little bit.

"There was a freshness about us and we probably could have nicked another one at the end.

"It was a good game between two good teams who wanted to win it but our reaction after half-time shows how much these boys care and I'm pretty proud of that."

Spalding are back at home on Saturday when they welcome Alvechurch to the Sir Halley Stewart ground.