The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Champions Spalding Poachers 1st ran riot in East Women’s League Division Two North West on Saturday as they decimated St Ives 2nd 18-0.
In what was their biggest win of a stellar season that has seen the Spalding women win every single fixture they’ve played, Charlotte Maplethorpe (5), Mia Dewing (4), Harriet Mowbray (4), Hennie Boekestyn, Sally Pilgrim, Georgina Maplethorpe, Angel Harkus and Evie Maltby all scored at Glen Park.
Spalding started strong and went on the attack, continuously breaking through the St Ives’ defence – but they struggled initially to convert their first goal.
Good passing up the pitch created some brilliant opportunities, with Dewing soon finding Spalding’s first goal.
It was then that the goals started to flow, and Poachers soon found themselves 8-0 up at half time, with the eighth goal coming from a cracking penalty corner strike by player-of-the-match Pilgrim.
Spalding wanted to keep the intensity high in the second half, using some great pace and teamwork up the pitch to win short corners and even a penalty stroke, that was converted by Dewing.
Maltby had a brilliant game in defence, gaining many assists with her passes out from the back.
Overall, it was an amazing team effort that saw Spalding gain another ten goals after the break.
In the same division, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st suffered a 4-0 home reverse at the hands of Cambridge University 3rd.
In Division Three North West, Spalding Poachers 2nd enjoyed a 2-0 derby win at Bourne Deeping 2nd.
After the hosts started well, it was Spalding who hit the front when Roz Dennis capitalised on a rebound from a foot in the D to put them 1-0 up.
In what was an end-to-end clash, Pippa Bembridge played a well-executed pass to find Amy Naylor at the top of the D – and skilfully moved the ball through their defenders and into the goal for 2-0.
At the other end of the table, Spalding Poachers 3rd remain in peril after a 0-0 draw against relegation rivals Shefford and Sandy 2nd. In a game that saw them perform well, Poachers had their chances but were also indebted to Christina Dewing for a number of top saves.
Down in Division Five North West, Long Sutton 2nd suffered their first defeat since November 27 as they went down 2-1 at St Neots 4th.
Emma Grosvenor scored and was named player-of-the-match in her first game back from a lengthy lay-off.
Saturday fixtures: Cambridge City 4th v Long Sutton 1st; Cambridge Uni 3rd v Spalding 1st (1.30pm); Spalding 2nd v Kettering 2nd (11am); Huntingdon 1st v Spalding 3rd (10.30am); Long Sutton 2nd v March Town 1st (11.30am).
