The Bucks were held to a 1-1 draw by a stubborn Spalding side on Saturday.

Kevin Wilkin’s men were the better side in the first half and looked in control without being overly spectacular. The Bucks’ good play was rewarded in the 18th minute when Matty Stenson found the net with a spectacular bicycle kick. Ellis Brown crossed from the left, and Stenson, with his back to goal around 16 yards out, chested the ball up in the air before whipping an acrobatic effort back across the keeper into the opposite corner. The goal was Stenson’s 26th of the campaign, equalling Dan Udoh’s single season record for the Bucks.

The Bucks had a big claim for a penalty shortly before half time when Ola Lawal’s shot appeared to hit a hand, but the referee ruled that no infringement had occurred, and so it was 1-0 to the Bucks at half time.

The Tulips upped their game after the break, and the momentum tilted the visitors way following a triple substitution in the 54th minute. Six minutes later, Spalding were level. Dan Lawlor’s corner was nodded in by Liam Moore, as the Bucks appealed in vain for a foul or flag.

Both sides might have won it after that, but the best chance fell to Lawal in the 86th minute. Rhys Hilton curled over a great cross from the right, but Lawal couldn’t steer his header on target when well placed.

Both teams might have felt that they could have claimed victory, but a draw was probably a fair result. With Bedford, Halesowen and Kettering all also drawing, it’s effectively as you were at the top of the table.