FOOTBALLSouthern League - Premier Central Play-Off Final
Spalding United 4-2 Real Bedford: Tulips Seal Historic Promotion to National League North
Spalding United sealed a famous promotion to the National League North for the first time in the club's history, beating Real Bedford 4-2 after extra time in the Southern League Premier Central Play-Off Final at a sold-out Sir Halley Stewart Field.
In this report
Spalding United was backed by a sellout capacity crowd of 2,700 who were packed into the quaint and well-appointed Sir Halley Stewart Field Ground, in the heart of Spalding town centre within a short walk of the town centre and railway station. The home side defeated Real Bedford in the Southern League - Premier Central Play-Off Final 4-2 after extra time to reach the National League North for the first time in the club's history.
Football in Spalding, Lincolnshire is on the up as the club have steadily climbed the non-league ladder thanks in the main to Andrew Killingsworth (AK Holdings) the club owner, manager Jimmy Dean (ex-Peterborough Sports and Scunthorpe United boss) with his assistant Chris Plummer (ex-Queens Park Rangers, Barnet and Peterborough United defender) and some accomplished players who have excelled at the club this season like Jack Roberts who has interested a number of EFL clubs. Under the stewardship of Dean and owner Killingsworth they have taken the Tulips to a worthy promotion along with Harborough Town who were also promoted as Champions into the National League North for the first time at that level in the history of the club.
Spalding had to go through the play off route beating Halesowen Town 1-0 last Tuesday night in front of 2,048 fans thanks to the only goal from Yusifu Ceesay in the 76th minute to seal the victory and a place in the Final with Real Bedford.
Timeline of key events
- 37'
Goal (Spalding United) - Yusifu Ceesay scores with a great header from a corner
- 45' +4
Half Time Spalding United 1 Real Bedford 0
- 51'
Substitution (Real Bedford) - Tom Hitchcock replaces Jack Davies
- 55'
Goal (Real Bedford) - Ben Charles Stevens scores to level at 1-1
- 55'
Yellow Card (Spalding United) - Curtis Thompson cautioned
- 65'
Substitution (Spalding United) - Josh McCammon replaces Curtis Thompson
- 66'
Yellow Card (Spalding United) - Connor Johnson cautioned
- 66'
Yellow Card (Real Bedford) - Tom Hitchcock cautioned
- 68'
Yellow Card (Spalding United) - Tom Pugh cautioned
- 83'
Goal (Real Bedford) - Joshua James Setchell scores to put Real Bedford 2-1 ahead
- 85'
Yellow Card (Spalding United) - Abduramane Sani cautioned
- 85'
Substitution (Spalding United) - Ben Fowkes replaces Abduramane Sani
- 90' +2
Goal (Spalding United) - Jack Roberts converts penalty to equalise at 2-2
- 90' +6
Full Time Spalding United 2 Real Bedford 2
- 92'
Goal (Spalding United) - Bart Cybulski scores in extra time to make it 3-2
- 93'
Substitution (Real Bedford) - Lee Jacob Watkins replaces Ben Robert Weyman
- 105' +2
Extra Time Half Time Spalding United 3 Real Bedford 2
- 109'
Substitution (Spalding United) - Sam Collins replaces Lewis Mark Hilliard
- 112'
Substitution (Spalding United) - Alfie Bendle replaces Jack Roberts
- 118'
Yellow Card (Spalding United) - Ben Fowkes cautioned
- 118'
Goal (Spalding United) - Ben Fowkes scores with a brilliant dribble and finish to seal it at 4-2
- 120' +4
Extra Time Full Time Spalding United 4 Real Bedford 2
Spalding United opened the scoring through a great header from a corner by Yusifu Ceesay in the 37th minute to make it 1-0. The home side held on to the advantage going into half time and the locals appeared happy with the performance in the opening 45 minutes.
Real Bedford came on strongly after the break and forced an equaliser through a Ben Stevens right footed shot in the 55th minute to make it 1-1. Both sides had chances to score but good saves by both goalkeepers and sorts going wide added to a frantic second half then Joshua Setchell slotted home to make it 1-2 to the visitors in the 83rd minute which looked like the winner but Spalding United backed by great support weren't finished and in the second minute of added time the home side were awarded a penalty and up stepped the golden boy Jack Roberts who calmly slotted home a penalty to make it 2-2 at full time and take the game to extra time.
Spalding United were the stronger in extra time scoring two goals through Bart Cybulski in the 92nd minute to make it 3-2 and then with two minutes remaining substitute Ben Fowkes dribbled outside the penalty area cut in and fired home to make it 4-2 in the 118 minute to seal a fabulous win for the mighty Tulips. A pitch invasion followed and after the fans returned, behind the perimeter railings the team were awarded the Trophy, and the celebrations began for Spalding United Football Club.
Next season Spalding United will host the likes of Brackley Town, Morecambe, AFC Telford United, Bedford Town, Buxton, Chester, Chorley, Darlington, Hereford, Kings Lynn Town, Macclesfield, Marine, Merthyr Town, Oxford City, Radcliffe, Scarborough Athletic, Southport, Spennymoor Town, Worksop Town, Hebburn Town, Harborough Town, Hednesford Town and South Shields or Kidderminster Harriers who are in next weekend play off final for a place in the National League.
Match statistics
| Metric | Spalding United | Real Bedford |
|---|---|---|
| Score | 4 | 2 |
| Half Time | 1 | 0 |
| Formation | 4-2-3-1 | 4-3-3 |
| Goalscorers | Ceesay 37', Roberts (pen) 90+2', Cybulski 92', Fowkes 118' | Stevens 55', Setchell 83' |
| Yellow Cards | Thompson 55', Johnson 66', Pugh 68', Sani 85', Fowkes 118' | Hitchcock 66' |
| Red Cards | — | — |
| Attendance | 2,700 |
Possession, shots, passing and fouls: official match data issued in the press box. Expected goals: third party provider, as published. Saves counted at the ground and verified against the team sheet.
Match details
- Competition
- Southern League - Premier Central Play-Off Final
- Date
- 4th May 2026
- Venue
- Sir Halley Stewart Field, Spalding
- Final Score
- Spalding United 4 - 2 Real Bedford (after extra time)
- Attendance
- 2,700
- Referee
- Matthew Langdon
Editorial judgement, not a statistic
William Powell's standout players
Yusifu Ceesay (Spalding United) Great header for opening goal and his pace troubled Real Bedford all afternoon.
Bart Cybulski (Spalding United) Industrious up front the lanky striker finally got reward for his toil with an added time goal.
Jack Roberts (Spalding United) Dangerous throughout, converted a late penalty to equalise and take game into extra time.
Ben Fowkes (Spalding United) Substitute who scored fourth goal with lovely dribble and sort to seal win in extra time.
Lewis Hilliard (Real Bedford) Great in the middle of the park and produced some key passes when Bedford came forward.
Connor Johnson (Spalding United) Solid in defence and won all his headed challenges.
Joshua Setchell (Real Bedford) Great goal to put Real Bedford ahead in second half.
Selected by William Powell at the ground.
William Powell
Senior Editor · FWA Life Member · Sports Journalist since 1987
William Powell is CUVA Sports' senior editor and lead correspondent, covering football and cricket at the highest level for nearly four decades. A Life Member of the Football Writers' Association, his writing combines deep tactical knowledge with the narrative flair of the best sports journalism.
