Spalding Men’s 1s 1
UEA 4
Hopes of picking up some valuable Men’s East League Division One North points were dashed.
An explosive start from the students saw Spalding struggling to keep running. Multiple penalty corners eventually led to the opening goal for the visitors.
Spalding showed great character to come back into the game and grew in confidence. They won a penalty corner of their own, which was expertly finished by Stu Cunnington.
Chances were created at both ends and both goalkeepers pulled off some top quality saves. Just before the break UEA got their noses in front again thanks to a cruel deflection off a defender to set up a simple tap in.
Spalding started the second half brightly but were caught on the break and a mishit shot found its way into the bottom corner.
Despite the opposition receiving a yellow card, the home cutting edge was lacking and it was former Spalding player Tom Amess who finished off the scoring.
Man of the match was James Grant.
Cambridge South 4s 2
Spalding Men’s 2s 3
Spalding got the best of five second-half goals to grab the Three North West points after hitting back from behind.
A goalless first half saw the teams evenly matched, with Callum Fraviger’s green card the only noteworthy moment.
Tom Pilgrim converted a short corner to put the visitors ahead but South hit back with an instant reply and soon went 2-1 up.
Spalding held strong and deservedly got back into the game with Pilgrim’s second goal. Lewis Burton then put Spalding 3-2 ahead and, despite the hosts applying lots of pressure in the last 10 minutes against a Spalding team reduced to 10 men twice following green cards for Brendan Atkin and Oliver Roy, no more goals arrived.
Spalding Men’s 3s 4
Cambridge City 5s 4
A battling performance by Spalding saw eight goals equally shared with the Division Four North West leaders.
They had to do it the hard way though after falling two goals behind in the opening 10 minutes.
Spalding battled hard and were rewarded with a goal from Peter Wright. Lawrence Smith-Hughes’ green card led to Spalding attempting to protect their goal, only to fall 4-1 behind.
That was the catalyst for an inspired performance as Spalding put together their best hockey of the season. Reuben Rogers pulled one back and Ethan Worall scored into an open goal after around 10 shots hit the goalkeeper’s pads.
It was all square thanks to a lovely deflection from Ben Scholes off a beauty of a ball from Simon Goode.
Good defending saw out the last 10 minutes although Spalding almost won it with Rogers almost scoring again.
Wright had the ball in the net from another short corner but the shot was just over the back board.
Spalding Men’s 4s 1
Bourne Deepings 4s 1
Under the Glen Park floodlights, Spalding battled to a Division Five North West draw in an important match for both teams.
A tightly contested first half ended with Bourne Deepings holding a slender advantage.
Spalding responded with renewed energy and intent. Defenders Sam Willerton and Alex Myland played key roles in breaking up the visitors’ attacks and man of the match Rafa Read worked tirelessly to drive the team forward. Home persistence paid off when Dylan Hind pounced on a loose ball in the circle and delivered a precise finish to score.
Josh Baker was Long Sutton Men’s scorer in a 4-1 defeat at Norwich City Seconds in East Men’s League Division One North.
A late winner secured a 3-2 victory for Long Sutton Seconds against Ely City Seconds in Division Three North West. Sam Bartlett got one of the goals.
Result of the day for Sutton came for the men’s third team against Division Five North West leaders Cambridge South Fifths. James Collingwood-Smith was among the scorers in a terrific 3-0 victory to inflict only the second defeat of the season on their visitors, who lost their grip on top spot.
Sutton Ladies were beaten 2-0 at St Neots Seconds in East Women’s League Division Three North West but Annabelle Giles got a goal in the second team’s 2-0 win at Huntingdon & Northstowe Seconds in Division Five North West. Remarkably, the Sutton team had only 10 players but the win leaves them third in the table, six points off the top but with a game in hand.
