Spalding Ladies’ 1st 1 Cambs South 1st 5
Spalding Ladies’ 1st travelled to face Cambs South 1st, full of confidence after beating the same opposition at home in their first encounter.
The positive mindset showed early on, with Spalding quick off the mark and opening the scoring within the first few minutes.
A well-placed assist from Ellie Holland found Honor Moore, who slapped the ball past the keeper to give Spalding an early 1-0 lead.
Cambridge responded swiftly and, after around ten minutes, brought the score level at 1-1.
Despite sustained pressure from the home side, Spalding defended bravely, with Freya Lee producing a string of fantastic saves to keep Spalding in the contest.
However, Cambridge managed to find the back of the goal once more before the break, and the first half ended 2-1 to the home team.
The second half began with Spalding in high spirits following an encouraging half-time team talk from manager Zoe Moore.
Cambridge came out fighting though, and soon extended their lead with a third goal.
Spalding worked hard to build momentum but were often unfortunate not to be allowed to play advantage while in possession, which disrupted the flow of the game.
Cambridge went on to score two further goals before the final whistle, bringing the match to a close at 5-1.
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd 3 Kettering 0
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd faced a competitive Kettering side, putting on an impressive display of teamwork, discipline and technical ability.
The game started in Spalding’s favour, with the team pressing high and working the ball continuously in the opposition half, although Kettering’s solid defence provided a strong challenge.
The breakthrough came in the 24th minute when a Spalding player received a splendid ball near to the penalty spot enabling her to chip the ball into the net.
Spalding continued to apply pressure and ten minutes later, a beautifully weighted pass from Emily Wright allowed Camille Rogers to finish clinically, making it 2-0.
The second half saw determination from two well-matched sides, with Kettering pressing deep into the Spalding D.
However, strong defensive work from Leanne Isaac-Pick and Lauren Grimer prevented the visitors from capitalising.
Spalding continued to drive into the Kettering 23, with attacking runs from Wright, Kate Amess and Kelly Tizzano repeatedly putting the ball into the D.
In the 29th minute of the second half, Spalding scored a third to make it 3-0.
The remainder of the match was back and forth, with both teams fighting to the final whistle, but it was Spalding who came out on top.
All pictures by Nigel Cookson.
Spalding Ladies’ 3rd 3 St Ives 0
Spalding 3rds travelled to face St Ives full of optimism about bringing home all three points.
They made a quick start, finding their rhythm and dominating possession.
Just ten minutes into the game, Spalding’s hard work was rewarded when Sam Foston opened the scoring, playing the advantage well and finishing past the keeper.
Spalding continued to apply pressure and doubled their lead in the 14th minute.
Quick link-up play down the right wing between Jess Pilgrim and Kiki Timmins led to a dangerous cross from Pilgrim, which was deflected off a defender’s stick and into the goal.
Spalding went into half-time with a deserved 2-0 lead.
They started the second half quickly, but despite this the defence came under increased pressure.
However, it was dealt with efficiently by Georgina Gray who remained composed at the back, making key interventions and continuously playing brilliant balls out wide to allow Spalding to continue their pursuit of more goals.
Spalding fought to the end and in the 65th minute their persistence paid off.
A quick side line ball from Megan Wright enabled Foston to dribble and secure herself a second goal.
Spalding Men’s 1st 6 Ely 1st 3
The squad looked to start strong however fell victim to the speed Ely brought to the table and conceded two early goals despite the best efforts of Oscar Haunch in goal.
Spalding struggled to get through the gears but were able to get one back through Matthew Hulme who tapped the ball across the line.
Half-time came and the lads came together, roused by the words of the captain Sam Howitt.
The words clearly resonated as after only a few minutes of the whistle blowing, James Grant was able to draw level, flicking the ball over the goalkeeper after a strong run from Jacob Baker.
Momentum swung back to Ely however as they were able to go ahead again.
Spalding gathered themselves and after a fantastic tackle at one end of the pitch, Harry Maplethorpe charged forward and drew level yet again.
Dan Azzopardi then put Spalding ahead after rounding the goalie, before Hulme grabbed another goal for his brace with a backhand rattling the backboard.
Maplethorpe continued to hold the line with some fantastic tackles, which in turn allowed the forwards to press home and add to the advantage with Will Wright firing home the team’s sixth of the day.
Spalding Men’s 2nd 2 Pelicans 2nds 7
Pelicans 2nds secured a commanding 7-2 away victory over Spalding 2nds, but the scoreline belies a fiercely competitive contest that was in the balance until the final quarter.
The game unravelled for the home side in the last 15 minutes as the away side netted four quick-fire goals to seal the points.
For 55 minutes, the teams were closely matched in a tense battle.
The defining and most talked-about moment came midway through the first half.
Spalding midfielder Simon Goode, showcasing remarkable pace, out-sprinted a player half his age to win a crucial ball, only to be savagely tripped by the opponent.
The cynical foul halted a promising attack and epitomised the game’s growing frustration for the home side.
Shortly after this incident, Pelicans found another gear, dismantling a tiring Spalding defence with four late, clinical goals to transform a narrow lead into a rout.
While Pelicans’ ruthless finishing in the final phase earned them a resounding win, Spalding can take heart from a resilient 55-minute performance.
Spalding Men’s 3rd 0 Cambs South 4th 1
Spalding 3rds travelled away to face Cambridge South 4ths on a pitch that proved tricky, with a surface that was a bit bouncy and difficult to control at times.
Despite that, Spalding showed some really good moments of well-played, hockey, combining solid defensive structure with positive attacking intent.
The game was tight early on, with both teams battling for control.
Cambridge managed to find the only goal of the game with an awkward shot that caught Spalding out, but it was far from easy for them.
Spalding made Cambridge work hard for everything, staying competitive throughout and pushing for an equaliser.
With one less sub than normal, the workload was higher and everyone started to feel it, but the team didn’t stop.
Even when legs were tired, Spalding continued to battle and fight for every ball right until the very last minute.
Out wide, Brian Read helped drive play forward and provided a useful outlet in attack.
Raf Read used the space well on the other side, carrying the ball and supporting the play going forward.
Clive Sheridan added good energy down the flank, linking up well and keeping the pressure on their defence.
At the back, Martin Perkins, Ethan Worrall and James Giles held the fort well in defence, staying organised and dealing with pressure.
Dylan Hind and Andy Barlow played some good balls wide and made vital runs to help transition the team from defence into attack.
In midfield and attack, Cheston Palmer and Tim Amess made Cambridge work hard across the pitch, combining with teammates and stretching their defence with good team play and movement.
Spalding also moved the ball around the back really well, showing confidence in possession.
Spalding Men’s 4th 1 Kettering Men’s 3rd 3
Spalding Men’s 4th put up a compelling fight at home against Kettering Men’s 3rd at Glen Park, eventually going down 3-1 despite a strong and disciplined performance.
The home side made the perfect start, taking the lead inside the first five minutes.
A positive opening spell was rewarded when Elliot Ashton finished confidently to give Spalding an early advantage.
Kettering responded by raising the tempo and applying sustained pressure.
Despite Spalding continuing to play some excellent hockey and competing well across the pitch, the visitors were able to score three times before the break, leaving Spalding 3-1 down at half time, a scoreline that felt harsh given the balance of play.
The second half was a much tighter contest, with Spalding showing real resilience and organisation.
The defence and midfield worked tirelessly to limit Kettering’s chances, and neither side was able to add to the scoreline, resulting in a 0-0 second half.
James Booth was excellent in goal, making a number of crucial saves to keep Spalding in the game and giving the defence confidence throughout.
Captain Henry Gibbons led from the front, showing strong attacking intent throughout.
Great effort up front was also shown by Jake Sawyer and Matthew Dorsett, who worked tirelessly to support attacks and trouble the Kettering defence.
Ed Sly produced an excellent performance, bringing organisation to the team.
The defence stood firm throughout the second half, with Sam Willerton and Kev Sawyer putting in strong, composed performances at the back.
Going forward, Fred Neal caused problems with some excellent runs and positive attacking play.
Conner Allen impressed in midfield with a tireless work rate and great skill.
There were plenty of positives for Spalding, particularly the progress shown by the younger players.
Leading the way was Elliot Ashton, whose early goal, energy and overall influence earned him a well-deserved man of the match award.
