Spalding Ladies’ 1st 3
UEA Ladies’ 1st 2
Spalding Ladies’ 1st showed grit and determination in a thrilling comeback victory against Norwich’s UEA, securing a hard-fought 3-2 win after going two goals down.
The game started with promise as both sides looked to settle early.
A stroke of bad luck for Spalding saw them concede midway through the first half, with UEA scoring from a short corner.
Going into the second half, UEA struck again, capitalising on a quick break.
Despite the setback, Spalding remained composed and continued to play with intensity and focus.
In the final 20 minutes, Spalding’s persistent pressure paid off when Georgina Maplethorpe fired home from a well-executed short corner routine.
With momentum on their side, Spalding continued to press, and it was the man of the match, Charlotte Maplethorpe, finishing calmly at the left post to level the score, before slotting home from the right post minutes later to complete a sensational turnaround.
The back line of Karen Timby, Honor Pearson, and Roz Dennis provided smart, efficient transfers across the pitch, keeping Spalding in control.
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd 0
St Ives Ladies’ 2nd 3
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd put in a strong performance against St Ives Ladies’ 2nd, despite the final scoreline.
The team played with real spirit, showing great passing, communication, and movement.
Grace Hodgett, Holly Gleave and Leanne Isaac-Pick linked up well to move the ball across the pitch, while Kate Amess made some excellent runs up the line to keep the pressure on.
Spalding were rewarded with several short corners but were unlucky not to convert their chances into goals.
Despite this, they kept their heads up and continued to battle until the final whistle.
Spalding Ladies’ 3rd 7
St Ives Ladies’ 3rd 1
Early possession in the opposition’s 23 saw Spalding create chances before Kelly Tizzano slipped the ball to Khloe Brewster whose attempt fell to Isla Worrall who finished neatly.
At 19 minutes, St Ives equalised after a mix-up between the keeper and defenders.
Spalding continued to attack in the D, creating a penalty corner for Worrall to get her second goal.
Spalding continued to dominate possession and despite missing a penalty stroke, Jess Worth followed up Zoë Moore’s shot off the post scoring the third goal.
Player of the match, Jessica Pilgrim’s runs down the right wing continued to cause St Ives problems.
Pilgrim crossed the ball twice for Brewster to score two goals in four minutes taking the score to 5-1.
Spalding’s sixth came when Pilgrim’s shot rebounded to Worth who slotted home her second.
With four minutes remaining Sam Foston entered the D after a mazy run and beat the keeper to score the home team’s final goal.
Spalding Men’s 1st 7
Wisbech Men’s 1st 2
Spalding began the match strongly, showcasing sharp attacking play and effective teamwork in the first half.
Dan Azzopardi opened the scoring with a well-crafted team goal.
Harry Walsh then found the back of the net with a tidy back post tap-in following a slick pass from Stu Cunnington.
Will Baker impressed by dribbling into the D and confidently slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.
Will Wright contributed twice, first with a clever reverse shot over the keeper’s head, and then another powerful strike, helping Spalding to a commanding 5-0 lead at half-time.
After the break, Wisbech managed to get on the scoresheet, but Spalding quickly responded with Azzopardi scoring again on a swift counter-attack.
Wisbech added another clinical goal to their tally.
The match saw disciplinary moments with green cards awarded to Walsh for a tackle from behind and Ethan Pearson for an infringement, but Spalding maintained their attacking pressure.
Player of the match Wright continued to test the opposition with a sharp forehand shot that rattled the side netting.
Spalding Men’s 2nd 1
Wisbech Men’s 2nd 2
Spalding 2nd faced Wisbech in a competitive encounter.
From the outset, Spalding showed strong possession and linked up well across the pitch, creating a number of opportunities.
Despite this promising play, it was Wisbech who struck first, capitalising on their chance to take the lead.
Spalding continued to press and were eventually rewarded when a short corner led to a penalty flick, an overall reluctance from the rest of the team meant Smith-Hughes volunteered and managed to convert despite onlookers having time to eat a three course meal before it crossed the line, scores level at 1-1.
The second half saw Wisbech pile on the pressure, forcing Callaby into several excellent saves.
However, their persistence paid off with a second goal from a short corner.
Spalding continued to battle and worked hard as a unit, but despite the team’s efforts, the equaliser didn’t come.
The game finished 2-1 in favour of Wisbech, with Spalding left to take pride in a spirited and determined performance.
Spalding Men’s 3rd 2
Pelicans 3rd 3
Spalding 3rd played home against an experienced Pelicans 3rd.
Spalding started the game with an attacking short, which was converted into a penalty flick.
Harry Vickers took the flick, and the keeper nearly saved, but the ball found its way into the roof of the net, making the score 1-0 to Spalding.
Shortly after, the Pelicans got a short corner, which they executed well and scored.
Coming up to half time Pelicans earned a penalty flick, which they executed to perfection, increasing their lead by one.
Half time rolled in with the score 2-1 to Pelicans.
Pelicans started the second half with another goal, which was a scrap in front of the net, doubling their lead.
At halfway through the second half, Spalding were given a short corner.
Tim Amess ejected the ball out to Paul Pearson, who passed it to Vickers who executed a perfect half volley to find the corner of the goal, reducing the lead by one.
The rest of the final half was fairly even with both sides having chances at goal, but none executed.
Final score 3-2 to Pelicans. Overall, everyone played really well, and the score is nothing to be displeased about.
Spalding Men’s 4th 1
Wisbech Men’s 2nd 3
The fours travelled the short distance to Wisbech looking to put behind the demoralising defeat against Peterborough the prior week.
And they did this in style, despite losing the game with two late goals seeing the hosts come out with a 3-1 win.
Again, the youth policy of Spalding saw seven 14-year-olds play in a squad of 13 and all did extremely well, with their hosts complimenting them on how well they had done.
Playing against a side that had been relegated from Division 4NW last season, the cards in theory were always going to stacked against the travelling side however they gave their hosts one heck of game and on another day could have come home with a share of the spoils.
However, it could be said that Spalding also had their own share of luck as well with shots flying just past the posts and Wisbech certainly created the lion’s share of the chances.
Wisbech took the lead midway through the first half after Spalding had kept the home side at bay comfortably.
Steve Thurlbourne in goal had an excellent game and had no chance with the cross shot after a good move that finally saw the hard-working defensive line of Kev Sawyer, James Giles, James Morris and Sam Hicks breached who had coped with the pressure extremely well.
Spalding’s head didn’t drop, they just rolled up their sleeves and with Dylan Hind being a constant thorn in the side of Wisbech with the experienced Ed Sly starting to orchestrate things in midfield Spalding started to create chances.
Add to this the superb hard work of Jake Sawyer, Cheston Palmer and Matthew Dorsett at the front and it gave the home side a lot to think about defensively.
Spalding kept probing and probing with Alex Myland and Fred Neal on the wings working their socks off with fantastic running and tracking of their players.
It was due reward for the away side when they equalised when Andy Barlow was left in space at the top of the D and fired home into the bottom left hand corner of the goal to equalise after another great move including Myland, Hind and Palmer.
One all at half-time and all to play for.
The second half started in a similar fashion, however the far more experienced Wisbech side started to show why they would be one of the top teams in the league and starting to play the ball around.
However, Spalding kept going and battling away but as time wore on, legs got tired and Wisbech scored two late goals to give the home side three points with Spalding just being overwhelmed at the back.
It would be wrong to say that Spalding had been thrashed. They gave the home side one heck of a game and came away with a lot of plaudits.
Wisbech should also get plaudits for the sporting way that they played the game and the home umpires did an excellent job.
The fours play their next game against Long Sutton in a far better frame of mind, knowing now that they can play against, and well, on paper the far ‘better’ teams and give them a game.
With morale restored, this should be a good game.
Player of the match was Ed Sly.
