Spalding Men 9
Ely City 0
Spalding faced major selection problems ahead of their East Men’s League Division 2NW top-of-the-table battle with Ely.
However, despite the absence of four regular players and the late withdrawal of Ethan Pearson, they put on a top-class show to romp to an outstanding victory.
Spalding struck within three minutes when man of the match Stu Cunnington found space on the edge of the D and fired a back-stick shot into the bottom corner of the net.
It was 2-0 when Will Baker combined with Harry Walsh to slot the ball past the goalkeeper.
Two penalty corners saw Cunnington find the roof of the net Jacob Baker finished off a brilliant move to deflect the ball home to make it 5-0 at the break.
Spalding came out for the second half second best and needed some good saves from Oscar Haunch to preserve their clean sheet.
However, on the break a fine through ball found Walsh to make it 6-0 and he completed his hat-trick soon after.
Resolute defending kept Ely at bay and that allowed Spalding to find space at the other end of the field with Jacob Baker taking full advantage to score with two fine solo individual effort.
Pelicans 2nd 4
Spalding 2nd 3
The second team remain without a win after four games but put in a solid display against the Division 3NW high-flyers and were unlucky not to gain reward for their efforts.
Pelicans struck in the first two minutes and were 3-0 ahead at the break.
Spalding’s second-half performance was a revelation with slick passing leading to a high number of line breaks and a nail biter.
Glenn Richardson struck from a penalty corner, driving it in off a defender’s shins, only for the hosts to add a fourth.
Spalding roared back when Richardson slipped the ball left to Harrison Vickers and his shot was flicked past the goalkeeper by Lawrence Smith-Hughes.
After a number of fouls on Richardson, a stroke was awarded, which he coolly ripped into the side of the net to make it 4-3.
Hopes of snatching a draw were dashed by five minutes of madness which saw yellow cards for Joe Maltby, Richardson and Smith-Hughes as Spalding ended the game with just eight players on the pitch.
Goalkeeper Rob Callaby took the player of the match honours.
Spalding 3rd 2
Cambridge South 4th 0
Solid possession set Spalding 3rds up for a decent Division 4NW victory.
Their first goal came from a short corner when Paul Pearson hit the bottom corner.
In the second half Ethan Worrall played a through pass and the home striker went one-on-one with the goalkeeper and rolled the ball into the net.
Kettering 3rd 5
Spalding 4th 0
A lack of players meant Spalding had to concede their scheduled Division 5NW fixture.
Men’s training is at Glen Park, Surfleet every Wednesday, 7pm-9pm.
