Spalding Ladies’ 1st 4
Cambridge South 3rd 1
Goals: Ellie Holland, Erin McMurray, Lauren Harvey, Lauren Spencely
Spalding Ladies’ 1st were looking for a positive start to 2024, in the way were Cambs South 3rd.
The game started with high intensity with Spalding having most of the ball and creating attacking chances with Holland having strikes at goal but no luck.
A great run from player of the match Spenceley going through defenders saw Spalding finally find the goal.
Spalding kept going with attack after attack then wining a short corner which was converted by Holland after a lovely one-two with Georgina Maplethorpe.
Spalding scored another goal thanks to Harvey and the first half ended 3-0.
They were determined to get more goals and after another attack from great play in the midfield by Maplethorpe and Jess Ball who sent the ball to Holland where she looked to cross the ball and found McMurray to make it 4-0.
Cambs started to get more involved in the game and looked to press Spalding’s defence but despite great tackles and clearances by Pippa Bembridge and Evie Maltby, Cambs found the goal.
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd 1
St Ives 2nd 1
Goals: Karen Timby
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd faced St Ives 2nd in a top-of-the-table clash, which resulted in a 1-1 draw.
St Ives struck first, capitalising on a short corner 15 minutes into the game.
Despite Spalding Ladies’ relentless efforts, they ended the first half trailing 1-0.
However, the resilience of the team shone through, largely thanks to the exceptional performance of man of the match Freya Lee, who showcased remarkable goalkeeping prowess, denying St Ives further goals.
The second half saw Spalding intensify their offensive manoeuvres, refusing to relent in their pursuit of an equaliser.
Their perseverance paid off when, 15 minutes into the half, a well-executed short corner paved the way for Timby and Kelly Slater to orchestrate a brilliant one-two play, culminating in Timby’s precise strike into the corner of the net, levelling the score.
Spalding surged forward, mounting attacks to snatch a lead. Despite their relentless efforts, they couldn’t find the elusive second goal, resulting in a hard-earned draw.
Spalding Men’s 2nd 1
Cambridge Nomads 2nd 0
Goals: Harry Maplethorpe
Spalding Men’s 4th 3
St Ives 4th 2
Goals: Andy Barlow, David Burrell, Peter Wright
It was a bright start by third placed St Ives who dominated possession in the early stages.
Some good defensive play by Simon Goode and Ed Sly kept the score goalless.
However, a good response from Spalding resulted in Wright slotting home the opening goal.
After some good saves by the St Ives keeper, Burrell fired home a second with a clean strike from the top of the D to make it 2-0.
Just before half time, St Ives halved the deficit with a scrappy goal.
Lorenzo Mendoza and Reuben Rogers put in stand out performances and this kept the lead of one goal until Spalding won a short corner which Barlow finished with a reverse stick finish.
St Ives got one back with a good strike from the edge of the D beating keeper Eddie Sawyer.
Some intelligent play from Spalding in the last ten minutes by keeping the ball in the corner ensured the final score 3-2.
Spalding have now gone six games unbeaten and closed the gap on third placed St Ives to two points.
