Spalding Ladies’ 1s gained the three points they needed from their penultimate game to ensure their Division 2NW status.
A 3-2 victory at home to Cambridge City did the trick.
A confident start saw Spalding pass the ball around well and create good attacking opportunities.
After earlier penalty corner efforts had failed to find the mark, a slip to player-of-the-match Kelly Slater on the left post gave the home team the goal they were desperate for.
Their lead was short lived when a wayward defensive pass conceded possession and the ball somehow eluded defenders and keeper to trickle into the goal.
At 1-1 the pressure was back on the hosts with only a win good enough.
Claire Hindmarsh then picked out a fantastic long pass to Lyn Sullivan at the top of the D, Sullivan added to her season’s tally with a calm, unstoppable finish, 2-1.
Cambridge continued to apply pressure, forcing Spalding narrower, restricting their attacking options.
Relief came after some excellent work down the right-hand side from Mia Dewing gave Maddie Haunch the chance to score, which she took and gave Spalding the two-goal lead.
As Spalding continued to push forward, they were found wanting at the back when City overloaded the D and scored their second with just five minutes remaining.
Nerves jangled but Spalding held firm confirming their safety via a fantastic team performance when it was needed most.
* Spalding 2s went into their final fixture with Huntingdon 1s with their Division 3NW status on the line, but a 2-0 win saw them leapfrog their hosts. Missed opportunities frustrated both sides in a scoreless first half.
Spalding were rock solid in defence with steady work from Roz Dennis and Meg Moore in the centre .
It was Spalding that took advantage of the opportunities on goal firstly with a beautiful reverse hit from Grace Hodgett giving them a 1-0 lead five minutes into the second half.
Spalding kept pushing and won a short corner. The Huntingdon keeper went to ground and Eva Keyes managed to turn on her reverse and slot in the second.
After holding out, Spalding jumped for joy at the final whistle.
Elsewhere, Spalding 3s thrashed Alford 2s 5-0, Rachel Perkins, Terri Bateman, Milly Hastings, Alison Willson and Sam Foston on the scoresheet.
