Spalding United Reserves continued their winning streak in ChromaSport Peteborough League Division with a rugged 4-2 away victory at in-form Sutton Bridge United on Saturday.
The Tulips began slowly again, with Bridge – who had won six on the spin ahead of this derby – using the pace of their forward men to good effect to create two missed half chances.
Spalding then got control of possession and a slick passing move resulted in Jack Wycherley being pulled down in the box. Wycherley stood up to convert the penalty confidently.
Bridge responded positively, with Ben Partridge finding himself one on one with keeper Ash Elderkin, who pulled off a fantastic save.
A flurry of Bridge corners followed, exerting huge pressure on the Tulips defence. Eventually, Joseph Sutton’s glancing header at the near post found its way into the net to level matters.
Further pressure saw Elderkin pull off possibly the save of the season, scooping the ball out the top corner from a Sam Cooper header. Soon after a long ball was latched onto by Jonny Lockie, who superbly turned his man and fired into the keeper, before rolling home the rebound to put Spalding 2-1 up.
In the second half, Spalding came out strongly. They controlled the half by passing confidently and physically winning challenges.
Early in the half Jamie Cartlidge increased the lead by dispatching a Dave Endersbee knock down from a corner. A fourth was again added by Lockie, following a good interchange with fellow striker Cartlidge. Debutant Josh Maguire later hit the bar after a speculative 30-yard drive and Lockie poked a further attempt wide.
Bridge found another gear to add a second through Matt Eaton, while a further wave of pressure was held off by the Tulips to maintain the 4-2 lead and claim a win that moves them up to fourth in the table.
Spalding: Elderkin, Phillips, Endersbee, Nicholls (Jason Chilvers), McKue, Rose, Wycherley (Klos), McGuire, Bergin, Cartlidge (Jack Chilvers), Lockie.
