Spalding Ladies’ 1st 1
Sudbury Ladies’ 1st 8
Spalding faced a tough away fixture against Sudbury, with the squad hit by the loss of a key player through injury.
Despite the setback, the team started with determination and energy.
Sudbury opened the scoring just ten minutes in, but Spalding showed great resilience and quickly found an equaliser when Emma Gent fired a shot towards goal that was brilliantly deflected in by Amy Naylor.
The first half was competitive, with Spalding battling hard across the pitch – driven by the tireless efforts of Charlotte Maplethorpe, who gave an outstanding performance.
However, momentum shifted in the 22nd minute when Sophie Wilson received a green card, leaving Spalding a player down.
Sudbury capitalised on the advantage, applying relentless pressure and finding the net several more times as the game wore on.
Despite the 8-1 scoreline, Spalding can take pride in their determination and teamwork throughout difficult circumstances.
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd 5
City of Peterborough Ladies’ 4th 0
From the first whistle, Spalding Ladies’ 2nd came out attacking hard, setting the tone for a confident and dominant display.
It took just three minutes for Spalding to break the deadlock, with Grace Hodgett firing home the opener.
The number three seemed to be the lucky charm, as by half-time Spalding were 3-0 up, thanks to Elise Hatton and another one for Hodgett, following lovely combination play from Callie Priestley, Emily Wright and Lily Hooker.
The second half became a little fiery, with plenty of energy and commitment on both sides.
A particularly feisty exchange led to Priestley’s shorts meeting an unfortunate end, and a City player receiving a yellow card in the 42nd minute, leaving the opposition down to ten players.
Spalding wasted no time in taking advantage. Just six minutes later, Steph Wilson sent a brilliant ball into the D, where Hodgett was waiting to slot it home for her hat-trick in the 48th minute.
The final word went to Hooker, whose relentless running and persistence all match was rewarded with a goal in the 68th minute, sealing a 5-0 victory.
Spalding had more chances to convert throughout the match, with Emily Wright, Preistley and Vicky Worrall coming agonisingly close on a few occasions.
Special mention goes to Wilson, Leanne Isaac-Pick, and Preistley for keeping the centre of the pitch strong and composed, and to the defensive unit Hooker, Holly Gleave, Sam Maltby and Lauren Grimer who were absolutely outstanding, ensuring a well-earned clean sheet.
Spalding Ladies’ 3rd 8
Cambridge South 6th 2
Spalding Ladies’ 3rd travelled to bottom of the table Cambridge South 6th.
Kelly Tizzano broke the deadlock after seven minutes with a powerful strike from the edge of the D.
As the home team settled into the game, they equalised at 21 minutes with a scrappy goal as Spalding failed to clear the ball.
At 28 minutes, the visitors were spurred into action when a Tizzano penalty corner strike was deflected in at the post by Jessica Pilgrim.
Spalding further extended their lead when Sam Foston struck from a corner just before half time.
Just four minutes into the second half, Isla Worrall swept home after build up from a long corner.
Pilgrim repeated her earlier goal with another deflection from a Tizzano strike to take a 5-1 lead.
With 13 minutes remaining, Cambridge scored again from a long ball through the centre of the pitch.
However, Spalding were not finished, an early ball from Tizzano to Foston allowed Foston to get her second of the day with a shot that dribbled past the keeper.
As the clock wound down, Lucy Wilson got on the scoresheet with a fine deflection at the near post from a Foston penalty corner strike.
A final goal of the game came in the closing moments when Jess Worth finished a great Eloise Doughty cross into the D.
Spalding Men’s 1st 2
St Neots 1st 0
Spalding made the journey to St Neots looking to continue their early season form and found a resolute opponent.
Spalding opened the game well and passed the ball around but were unable to take an advantage early on and found a keeper in top form.
The game became stretched and Spalding lost Phil Callow to a green card.
Spalding took the lead when a fine piece of individual skill from Will Baker saw him break the defence and his shot was well saved, however Dan Azzopardi reacted first and hit the ball on the reverse into the roof of the net.
Spalding restricted their opponents and defended penalty corners to take the lead into the break.
A rousing team talk saw Spalding fly out the blocks and after six minutes, after multiple penalty corners, they finally struck gold when a well-worked routine saw Jacob Baker flick the ball into the roof of the net following a save from the keeper.
The game became scrappy and Spalding lost Jacob Baker to a green card.
Several superb reflex saves from Oscar Haunch kept his clean sheet and Spalding’s lead.
Multiple chances to extend their lead came Spalding’s way but a slippy pitch and some fine saves kept the game at 2-0.
Spalding lost vice captain Jacob Baker to a ten-minute yellow card which saw him miss the rest of the game.
A formation change, and every member putting their body on the line, saw the team come away with a well deserved clean sheet and 2-0 win.
Spalding said bon voyage to teammate Reuben Gray after the game as he is set to travel to Bangkok.
Spalding Men’s 2nds 2
St Ives 1
St Ives started strong producing some good hockey and chances early on.
However, Spalding grew into the game and scored after around 15 minutes when Lawrence Smith Hughes’ powerful cross was deflected in by Tim Maltby.
St Ives struggled to cope and Spalding pushed for a second which paid off when a short corner found Simon Goode on the back post who volleyed the ball calmly into the near corner.
Spalding saw out the first half well with stubborn defending and at the start of the second half could have got a third with a great effort on reverse from Callum Fragivar being well saved.
As the half went on St Ives began to apply pressure and did score with ten minutes to go from a short.
Spalding showed lots of composure to see out the last ten minutes with stand out performances from Willem Borst and man of the match Aaron Borst helping to shut St Ives attack out and secure a 2-1 win.
Spalding Men’s 3rd 0
Bourne Deeping 2nd 10
Spalding 3rd faced a tough challenge against a well-drilled Bourne Deeping 2nd side.
The game started slowly for Spalding, with the visitors conceding two early goals.
A third goal followed later in the half, giving Bourne Deeping a comfortable lead.
Despite the scoreline, Spalding showed improvement towards the end of the first half, beginning to find some rhythm and structure in their play.
The halftime score stood at 3-0.
The second half saw Bourne Deeping continue their composed and clinical hockey, maintaining control of possession and moving the ball with confidence.
Their fourth goal came from a penalty flick, awarded after the ball struck a Spalding foot on the line.
The remaining goals came from open play, as Bourne Deeping capitalised on their momentum and sharp attacking play.
Spalding Men’s 4th 6
Wisbech Men’s 4th 0
Spalding started strongly and took the lead within the first five minutes.
The ball fell nicely to Tom Eve in the D during a short corner routine and he confidently found the corner of the goal.
The home side were playing some superb flowing hockey and this led to the second goal after fine play by Ed Sly, Isaac Davison and James Giles saw another short corner being awarded.
And again, Eve found the net and Spalding were two goals to the good.
It got even better for the home side when Andy Barlow picked up a loose pass, ran into the D and crossed to Will Clark for the youngster to score his first league senior goal with a simple tap in at the far post to give the hosts a three-goal cushion.
Spalding suffered a bit of a blow with Giles being forced off for preventative measures at the start of the second half, however the home side kept their shape well and kept the momentum going.
Eve followed up a short corner shot from Barlow that was well saved by the young Wisbech goalkeeper, with an unstoppable finish for his hat-trick.
In a repeat of Clarke’s first goal, Barlow again drove forward into the D following some neat work by the Spalding midfield, this time finding the Spalding youngster who got enough on the ball to deflect it past the oncoming goalkeeper for Spalding’s fifth and his second of the game.
Spalding hit their sixth of the game when Eve converted for his fourth of the game.
It could have been seven but Davison’s last minute effort was correctly ruled out for a prior foul preventing his first ever senior league goal.
Spalding’s next game is another tough assignment, away at Bourne Deeping 3rds who sit fourth in the league table.
