There were goals galore for Spalding Men’s as the seconds scored four and the thirds five in their wins.
It wasn’t such a good week for the first and fourth teams though as they both lost their fixtures.
Spalding Men’s 1st 0 Chelmsford 1st 2
The game started at blistering pace with Chelmsford going straight into the attack, putting Spalding onto the defensive.
Chelmsford won a soft penalty corner, score 1-0.
Constant attacking play from Spalding led to a shot in the bottom left corner. With the score 1-1 Spalding looked on the front foot, but the goal was disallowed, the ball being judged outside of the area.
Chelmsford then took advantage of the confusion to create an attacking play in which repeated fouls led to a penalty corner being awarded against Spalding.
A drag flick from the top of the area went in putting the score at 2-0. Spalding responded with a cross into Chelmsford’s area and getting a deflection into the bottom right corner only for it to be disallowed.
Spalding Men’s 2nd 4 Cambridge South 3rd 3
Goals: Tim Maltby, Darren Grooby, Aaron Scholes, Jacob Drew
Spalding started the better team and it wasn’t long before they took the lead with Maltby slotting home.
Cambridge were then penalised after a defensive error and a penalty stroke awarded to Spalding was finished by Grooby.
Cambridge hit back straight away to make it 2-1.
The second half started with Cambridge attacking and equalising. This spurred Spalding on and they won a penalty corner which Scholes dispatched to make it 3-2.
Drew then hit home to make the score 4-2.
Cambridge pulled one back in the last few minutes, but Spalding held on to gain their first points of the season.
Spalding Men’s 3rd 5
St Ives 4th 1
Goals: Glenn Richardson (3),
Jack Martin, Graeme Matthews
Spalding took the lead with Richardson on 15 minutes. They continued to add the pressure but remained 1-0 at the break.
In the second half, Spalding got their reward when Martin doubled the lead, before Richardson added two more to get his hat trick.
Spalding conceded a short corner and St Ives got a consolation goal before Matthews scored a late fifth goal.
Spalding Men’s 4th 0
City of Peterborough 7th 1
Spalding started the game by piling on the pressure. The first half saw some very near misses on Spalding’s part.
In the final half, Peterborough ramped up the pressure and managed to get the only goal of the game.
Norwich City 2nd 2
Spalding Ladies’ 1st 2
Goals: Mia Dewing (2)
Spalding started strong and were unfortunate not to score early on, but eventually went 1-0 up thanks to Dewing.
Going into the second half, Charlotte Maplethorpe passed a good ball to Dewing on the penalty spot, whose shot was saved on the line. The ball came back out to Dewing, and she gave Spalding a 2-0 lead.
Norwich started to fight back and the next goal was a deflection from a Spalding stick, making the score 2-1.
Norwich kept up their strong attack and managed to quickly gain another goal.
Pelicans 2nd 1
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd 3
Goals: Erin McMurray, Lauren Spenceley, Sam Maltby
In the first half a new formation was trialled which led to a little disorganisation and a short corner being awarded to Pelicans, which resulted in a well struck goal.
Spalding pushed hard to retaliate but the goals were not coming.
Formation was changed at half time and within seven minutes Spenceley scored.
On 13 minutes McMurray made a sprint for the corner picking up a superb strike into the D from Roz Dennis.
Just before the end Spalding won a short corner and Maltby executed an amazing flick between her legs past the Pelicans’ goalie.
Spalding Ladies’ 3rd 1
Newmarket 2nd 2
Goal: Terri Bateman
Spalding defended well and the score line remained 0-0 until a strong attack saw Bateman slot home a goal.
Newmarket followed suit, 1-1 going into the break.
Spalding upped the pace after half time but were unable to score and Newmarket took advantage of some defensive errors slotting home the winner.
