Harleston Magpies 2nd 2
Spalding Men 1st 1
After withstanding an early onslaught, Spalding took the lead in their opening East Division One North match of the season only to be overhauled by their Suffolk-based hosts.
Spalding defended superbly and put their bodies on the line in the opening stages before going ahead when a strike from Jacob Baker was well saved but Darren Grooby pounced on the loose ball to score.
Magpies caught Spalding off-guard at the start of the second half to equalise with a back post tap in.
A quick turnover in the middle of the pitch then saw Magpies win a penalty corner from a mistake at the back and converted it to go 2-1 ahead.
Spalding rallied late on with some near misses across the goal but touches just evaded the visitors’ sticks as a super display of passion, commitment, discipline and work rate failed to yield victory.
Men of the match were Matt Sanders and Jacob Baker.
The second team were beaten 4-0 at home by Cambridge City Thirds in Division Three North West.
Spalding Men 3rd 7
Pelicans 3rd 2
A five-goal first-half burst put Spalding well on their way to making a flying start to their Division 4NW season.
After an even start, Spalding struck five unanswered goals before half-time with Glenn Richardson helping himself to a hat trick and further strikes from Charlie Smith and Glenn Perkins.
The second half was slower paced and saw the two sides share four goals equally with Richardson and an excellent finish from Sam Willerton rounding off the home scoring.
The men’s fourth team drew 2-2 with City of Peterborough Sixths in Division 5NW, while the new development team’s match at home to Cambridge South Sevenths was postponed and will now be played on October 6.
Pelicans 2
Spalding Ladies’ 1st 5
Spalding made a superb start to the East League Division Two North West season with an emphatic victory in King’s Lynn.
The ladies had beaten the Norfolk side two weeks earlier in a friendly and made it a swift double as they made the most of dominating first-half possession.
Erin McMurray pushed in the opener after ten minutes from a deflection off a post. Within six minutes Spalding scored their second goal after an interception by Laura Panton saw her go on a solo run before striking a powerful shot from the top of the D.
The third goal came before half-time when McMurray sent the ball flying to the left of the goalkeeper after receiving a brilliant base-line pass from Lauren Harvey.
The second half started well and Ellie Holland soon added her name to the score sheet with a solo run and high-powered strike.
Within two minutes an incredible hit from Panton was deflected into the goal by Holland for her second goal.
Pelicans continued to battle and Evie Maltby had to make an incredible save on the line. The hosts kept pushing and were rewarded with two goals in the last ten minutes.
Cambridge Nomads 6
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd 1
Spalding opened their Division Two North West season, who had been promoted with them to the higher level.
The newly-organised team struggled to make an impact against their more experienced opposition and, despite some crucial interceptions and tackles by player of the match Zoë Moore, Spalding were 3-0 down at half time.
Amy Naylor worked well in midfield but chances were few and far between, despite Lyn Sullivan’s best trickery up front. Spalding eventually got a reward for their efforts when neat build-up play between Steph Wilson, Camille Rogers and Grace Hodgett led to the latter earning a penalty corner, which she slammed home herself.
Some desperate saves and goal-lines clearances could only hold Nomads at bay temporarily before they boosted their tally.
Spalding Ladies’ 3rd 0
Bourne Deeping 2nd 2
Despite dominating the opening stages with some clever wing play and raining shots in on goal, Spalding were unable to find a way past the Bourne goalkeeper as their first Division Four North West match of the season ended in defeat.
Alex Baker made some cracking saves in the home goal on her debut and at half-time the deadlock was still to be broken.
Player of the match Honor Pearson dominated the right side of the pitch but Spalding were unable to find the touch into the goal and paid the price when the away team struck from two short corners to take all the points.
Pictures by Nigel Cookson.
