The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Spalding Ladies’ 1st 4
Cambridge South 3rd 1
Goals: Amy Naylor, Ellie Holland, Georgina Maplethorpe
The game began quite slowly due to the unexpected pace of the ball on the pitch, but this didn’t hinder Spalding’s performance.
After just four minutes the first short corner was won. A great injection from Kate Amess sent the ball to Holland who found the back board. The first half finished 1-0.
Coming into the second half strong Spalding found the back of the net again, Maplethorpe secured the second goal.
Only three minutes later Naylor found herself on the score sheet, after a great deflection from Maplethorpe.
Another fantastic attack from Jess Ball and a deflection from Naylor increased Spalding’s score to 4-0.
A quick counter from South found a gap in Spalding’s defence, finding themselves a goal.
Spalding had an excellent 4-1 win to finish the season.
Spalding Men’s 1st 3
Cambridge Nomads 1st 4
Goals: Jacob Baker, Stuart Cunnington
The game started off in Spalding’s favour with them dominating early proceedings, yet no goal was forthcoming.
Eventually pressure did tell, with a short corner duly converted through the keeper’s legs by Cunnington.
Yet strangely, the goal had rather undesired effects, the tempo, rhythm and purpose went out the host’s play.
Nomads equalised soon after and then scrappily converted one of a number of short corners to go into half time 2-1 up.
With renewed vigour, Spalding set about hunting down a victory from behind.
High value passes through wide channels and good combinations in midfield through Harry Naylor, Barney Harris and Jacob Baker saw Spalding win a penalty flick.
Baker converted to bring the score to 2-2, but again, as opposed to pushing on, energy levels dropped on which Nomads capitalised.
They earned a short corner against the run of play, but the ball ended up being squeezed into the bottom corner and soon after, a counter attack made it 4-2.
The goals sprung the hosts back into action and Cunnington converted his second short corner of the game with Spalding pressing to equalise before the final whistle.
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd 1
St Ives 2nd 1
Goals: Hennie Boekestyn
Spalding Ladies’ 2nd fought out a well-deserved draw in their final match of the season.
Spalding injected pace from the start with chances being created early in the game but none were taken.
St Ives worked the ball well through the midfield causing the home team problems.
A St Ives penalty corner was saved by the keeper before Sally Pilgrim made a crucial goal-line clearance from the rebound shot.
After 14 minutes, one of the St Ives attacks resulted in a finish past Freya Lee, who was outstanding in goal.
Undeterred, Spalding knew that they’d be able to find a way back into the game and when a chance fell to Hennie Boekestyn five minutes later, she didn’t disappoint.
Thanks to a fine stick save from Lee, the teams went into the half-time break level.
Spalding showed great determination in the second half and as the clock ticked towards the final minute, Kelly Cooper nearly turned provider for the opposition as she lost her sense of direction and saw her pass the ball straight to the opposing forward.
Spalding were relieved when no damage was done from the penalty corner that followed.
Spalding Ladies 3rd 0
Cambridge University 4th 4
Cambridge looking to take promotion with a win were keen to impress, and with a misjudgement from captain Charlotte Morris, they grabbed their first one.
However, Spalding settled and Morris was able to link quickly with midfielders and attackers with her hit outs.
Camille Rogers ensured that the ball was hunted down and slipped it wide to Holly Gleave who played her best game, or to Samantha Foston who simply dazzled the opposition as she glided past them.
Unfortunately, just before half time, Cambridge scored another.
The travelling side were determined to keep the game alive and came back out with a fighting spirit.
Both teams had further opportunities to score but it was the home side that managed to capitalise through their short corners.
Another two goals scored past Spalding.
Spalding Men’s 3rd 7
Cambridge Nomads 3rd 1
Goals: Glenn Richardson, Alfie Fletcher, Jack Dorsett, Harry Shersby
Spalding 3rd controlled the game and got their reward with Glenn Richardson scoring first.
Spalding got a second by Alfie Fletcher deflecting a shot in a penalty corner.
Spalding lacked their pressure and let Nomads into the game with a goal to go into half time 2-1.
Spalding piled on the pressure throughout with Richardson scoring two more to complete his hat trick to make it 4-1.
Fletcher scored his second – an identical goal to his first.
Younger players Jack Dorsett and Harry Shersby also getting late goals to finish the game 7-1 to Spalding.
Spalding Men’s 4th 3
Ely City 3rd 8
Goals: Danny Wright, Peter Wright
Spalding started the game with a first for the club with a whole team of fathers and sons as the starting XI.
Ely took the lead early before Peter Wright equalised after ten minutes.
The first half remained relatively tight with Spalding failing to make anything of their superior short corner count.
In the second half the game remained end to end, but Ely were more clinical on the break and added four more goals to go 6-1 up.
The teams then shared the last four goals of the game with Peter Wright lining up Danny Wright who slotted home before Dave Burrell found Peter Wright who was able to make the final score 8-3.
