Kettering 1s 1
Spalding Men 1s 4
Spalding were at full strength for their first away game of the season in Division One North of the East Men’s League and returned victorious.
After a number of unsuccessful short-corner attempts, Spalding finally found a breakthrough when Joe Rogers produced a superb drag flick to score.
Spalding continued to apply pressure and soon doubled their advantage. An overhead ball from Jacob Baker found man of the match Dan Azzopardi at the top of the D and he showed great composure to lob the advancing goalkeeper.
Further pressure resulted in a third goal when two quick passes carved open the Kettering defence, leaving Ethan Pearson with a simple finish to make it 3-0 at the break.
Following some constructive feedback at half-time, Graeme Allen rallied the troops and sent his side back out with a clear game plan.
Kettering found a way through to reduce the deficit to 3-1 but Spalding responded almost immediately when James Grant calmly tucked the ball away.
Spalding Men 2s 2
Bourne Deeping 2s 2
Honours finished even as Spalding picked up their first point of the Division 3NW season, however, they were left frustrated after allowing the visitors to score from their only two chances.
In a closely fought game, the visitors, led 2-1 at the break, with Spalding’s goal coming from a penalty corner effort by Russ Watts.
The equaliser came from another penalty corner with Ryan Matthews on target but the second half was littered with cards and disjointed play.
Green cards for Oli Roy and Ash Barker, were followed by yellows for Barker and Watts and a yellow and two greens for Bourne.
Spalding Men 3s 1
Bourne Deeping 3s 3
Tim Maltby got the only goal of the game for the hosts as they fell to a Division 4NW defeat at Glen Park.
Spalding’s defensive players, alongside goalkeeper James Booth, worked hard to keep the visitors at bay but conceded twice to short corners.
Spalding came out after half-time with renewed energy and put Bourne under pressure with Dylan Hind influential in the middle of the pitch.
Man of the match Cheston Palmer tried to force the opposition into mistakes and the pressure paid off when Maltby pulled a goal back.
With momentum building, Spalding pushed hard for an equaliser but it was Bourne who found the net again to complete victory.
Wisbech 4s 3
Spalding Men 4s 2
A tight game went against Spalding by the odd goal in five as they continued to search in vain for their first Division 5NW point.
Spalding started strongly, with everyone working hard and putting in a huge amount of effort. They got their reward with a 1-0 half-time lead when Henry Gibbons got on the scoresheet.
Spalding continued to work tirelessly after the break and Andy Barlow added a second goal.
However, the hosts fought back to edge the game.
Player of the match was Simon Blake, who put in a fantastic shift in defence.
North Notts 1
Spalding Badgers 0
A team of youngsters gained full-pitch experience alongside adults in a mixed team that travelled to Mansfield.
A closely fought contest was decided by a late goal from the hosts.
However, the game proved valuable for the Spalding players, facing their older and more experienced opposition.
