Sam has Spalding’s young guns singing the Blues

Junior football: Spalding United youth round-up

Sam East fired a late winner to earn Spalding United Blue under-15s an exciting 3-2 win over Wisbech Yellow under-15s at the Sir Halley Stewart Playing Field.

In what was their first game at the Sir Halley this season, Spalding started slowly and fell behind.

But they were soon level when Jake Hollis used his pace to power past the onrushing keeper and slot the ball into an empty net.

Wisbech got themselves ahead again early in the second half, but the young Tulips then showed everyone why they are becoming such a great team.

They levelled again when Jordan Blackbourn hit a beautiful free kick from just inside Wisbech’s half, with the ball curling into the area and bouncing before deflecting off a defender and the keeper before rolling into the bottom corner.

The winner then came when East broke through to smash the ball home in the closing stages.

• Ten-man Spalding United under-14s put in a top team display to draw 3-3 away at a strong and physical Gunthorpe under-14 team.

Playing against the wind, the Tulips fell behind inside three minutes. They were soon level though, as Kieron McConnell slotted home from just inside the box.

Spalding then went 2-1 ahead on the half hour when Gunthorpe failed to clear a corner and Christian Fortune’s cross was turned into the net by Ben Lilley.

McConnell got his second early in the second period with a clinical cross-shot to make it 3-1. But two goals in the last 15 minutes – including a late penalty – ensured that it finished 3-3.

• Spalding United under-11s edged an entertaining game at Yaxley under-11s 3-2.

After a goalless first period that saw Spalding play some good stuff, they went ahead when Matthew Oddie followed up to convert a rebound.

Yaxley hit straight back to make it 1-1, but a calm finish into the bottom corner by William Johnson made it 2-1 to the Tulips with seven minutes remaining. Lightning struck twice as hosts Yaxley were level within two minutes, then missed a golden chance to go ahead for the first time.

Spalding made them pay, as Jack Doubleday lashed home a thunderbolt from way out to seal a memorable last-minute victory.

• Something had two give when two seemingly unbeatable teams clashed – and it was Spalding United under-10s who were edged out 2-1 by Thurlby under-10s.

Both sides boasted 100 per cent records going into the game, but it was the young Tulips who settled better early on. They failed to find the opener though, with Thurlby going up the other end and burying a header past Ben Giltname. A rapid counter attack then allowed them in for a second, to leave Spalding up against it.

Both Charlie Caller and Tom Bland missed good opportunities to pull one back for the Tulips before Dan Beresford strode out from defence and won and excellent challenge. He then stepped inside a player before bending a delightful 20-yard strike into the top right hand corner giving Spalding the lifeline in the game they needed.

Despite a man-of-the-match display from Tyler Boon, a good show from the ever consistent Aidan McMurray and good debuts by both Michael Amaro and Jonny Little, the Tulips couldn’t find an equaliser after the break.

• Dylan Evans scored on 38 seconds as Spalding United under-12s beat Phoenix United under-12s 7-3.

After that super start, Elliot Goodley fired home direct from a free kick to make it 2-0.

Phoenix pulled one back, but Anthony Smith’s low drive into the corner made it 3-1 at half time. That became 3-2 soon after the break, but Toby Woolsey’s sweet low drive and another super Goodley free kick put Spalding clear at 5-2.

With the Tulips now rampant, Woolsey added his second before the impressive Goodley soon completed his hat-trick after rounding the keeper. A late Evans own goal failed to take the shine off a fantastic teams show.

• Best of the rest: Goals from Oliver Green and Josh Stevenson earned Spalding United Orange under-15s a 2-2 draw at Yaxley under-15s.
• Charlie Beecham notched twice to secure Spalding United under-13s a 2-0 win over Werrington under-13s.
• Keane Slayven was among the goals as Spalding United under-9s beat Thurlby under-9s 3-1.
• Spalding United under-8s went down 6-2 at home to Deeping Rangers Blue under-8s.