University of East Anglia 1 Spalding Ladies 3
Spalding delivered a strong all-round performance to secure a well-earned East League Division One North victory at UEA.
The breakthrough came from an excellent team move. Honor Moore combined neatly with Charlotte Maplethorpe and Georgina Maplethorpe, carving through the UEA defence. Charlotte Maplethorpe took the ball around the goalkeeper with composure and finished confidently.
A sharp counter-attack saw Ellie Holland deliver the perfect ball into Charlotte Maplethorpe’s path to give Spalding a 2-0 advantage at half-time.
UEA pulled a goal back but Spalding regained control and sealed the game with another well-worked team goal completed by Charlotte Maplethorpe for her hat-trick. Despite that treble, it was goalkeeper Gaby Taylor who won the player of the match honours.
Spalding Ladies 3s 6 Pelicans 3s 1
A dominant performance saw Spalding secure an impressive Division Five North West victory to keep up their title challenge.
Sam Foston opened the scoring in the sixth minute after a mazy run and five minutes later she struck again after a lovely build-up involving Lucy McClements and Jess Pilgrim.
Isla Worrall extended the lead following a beautiful team move but the King’s Lynn team pulled one back to make it 3-1 at the break.
Jess Worth showed brilliant movement to meet a pinpoint free hit from Kelly Tizzano to make it 4-1 and five minutes later Lucy McClements added a fifth.
The scoring was rounded off in the 70th minute with a well-worked penalty corner routine. A slow, composed injection from Worrall saw Tizzano slap the ball to the far post, where Worth was perfectly placed to seal a superb team performance.
Spalding Ladies Third XI on their way to a 6-1 win against Pelicans. Photos by Nigel Cookson.
