Spalding United suffer a Miracle comeback as FA Cup dreams are put on hold
Spalding United suffered a late collapse to put their FA Cup first round proper place in jeopardy.
‘The Tulips’ will be in the hat in Monday’s draw (October 19, 6.35pm) but they have a replay to get past first after throwing away a 2-0 lead in the final 10 minutes of their Fourth Qualifying round toe against lower level Alvechurch at the Sir Halley Stewart Field today.
Two goals from Dan Jarvis looked to have Spalding in control, but Miracle Okafor scored twice, including a stoppage time penalty, to force a replay at the home of the Southern Premier Division Central side on Tuesday.
Jarvis opened the scoring for Spalding in the 17th minute when sweeping home Dan Barton’s fine cross, but the threat of the visitors was always obvious as they hit the woodwork either side of the first goal.
Jarvis made it 2-0 on the hour after latching on to a fine pass from Ben Fowkes. The former Peterborough Sports man took the ball around the goalkeeper before slotting home.
That should have been that for the National League side in front of a crowd of 991, but on 82 minutes Okafor swivelled and struck a low shot past Spalding ‘keeper Peter Crook.
Okafor also proved deadly from the spot in the 92nd minute to deliver what will doubtless be a nail-biting clash on Tuesday.
On-loan Posh winger Ejiro Abbey was an unused substitute for Spalding.
Spalding: Crook, Sembie-Ferris, Kelly, Johnson, Fox, Byrne, Jarvis (sub Sani, 75 mins), Straughan-Brown (sub Bendle, 88 mins), Cybulski, Barton, Fowkes.
Unused subs: Wilks (GK), Rose, Vaughan. Betteka, Abbey.