Spalding United are one step away from securing an historic promotion after victory in their play-off semi-final on Wednesday night.
The Tulips were 1-0 home winners over Halesowen Town on Wednesday night to move a victory away from reaching step two of the non-league pyramid for the first time ever.
Yusifu Ceesay scored the match-clinching game in front of more than 2,000 fans to set up a home play-off final with Real Bedford on Bank Holiday Monday.
Yusifu Ceesay. Photo: Chris Lowndes
Spalding welcomed back skipper Liam Moore in the only change to the starting line-up after he missed the 4-4 draw at Worcester City over the weekend.
The Tulips had passed the 100-goal mark for the league campaign during the draw and they created the better chances in the opening half after a nervy start from both teams.
Bart Cybulsi saw a good opening blocked by Jim Kellermann before the Spalding striker flicked the ball into the path of Maniche Sani but no-one was on hand to convert his inviting cross.
Jack Roberts saw an effort from distance repelled before Halesowen suffered a setback from skipper Josh Smile was forced off through injury.
Spalding continued to hold the momentum and Cybulski saw another shot blocked after being teed up by Roberts following Moore’s quickly-taken free-kick.
Curtis Thompson was next to swing a great delivery into the Halesowen penalty area but again the vital finishing touch eluded the Tulips.
Sani was inches away from connecting with an audacious diving header from a Roberts cross before Yusifu Ceesay scooped a good chance over the crossbar.
Yeltz goalkeeper Daniel Platt then somehow emerged with the ball from a scramble in the penalty area after efforts from Cybulski and Tom Pugh to ensure the opening half ended goalless.
Halesowen served Spalding warning of their attacking threat at the start of the second half with the league’s top scorer Jason Cowley curling a shot just wide of the far post while Spalding custodian Dan Wilks produced an acrobatic stop to claw away a goalbound shot.
The Tulips then had manager Jimmy Dean dismissed from the dug-out after trying to prevent a quick throw in being taken.
His team still continued to threaten with Roberts whipping in a dangerous set piece that again eluded a posse of home players while an inswinging corner caused chaos in the penalty area before being cleared off the line by the Yeltz.
Ceesay then did well to create an opening but his shot failed to trouble Platt before Spalding made the breakthrough with 15 minutes remaining.
A fine pass from Thompson picked out Roberts out wide and his low centre was turned home by Ceesay to give the Tulips the lead.
Roberts fizzed a shot just past the far post moments later before seeing another well-struck effort palmed away by Platt while Cybulski was again kept out by the Halesowen defence when well placed.
The lack of a second goal kept Halesowen in the contest but Spalding survived some late set pieces and Halesowen pressure to book their place in the final.
Tulips: Wilks, Sembie-Ferris, Olopade, Moore, Johnson, Thompson, Roberts, Pugh (McCammon), Cybulski, Sani, Ceesay (White). Subs not used: Akanbi, Bendle, Fowkes.
Attendance: 2,048.
