Spalding Hockey Club round-up
Spalding's men's first team secured a maximum six-point haul after playing two games in two days over the weekend.
They were 4-2 home winners over Cambridge University 2nds on Saturday before travelling to Cambridge Nomads 24 hours later where they returned with a 3-2 victory.
Saturday's match had seen a well-contested first half in a game played at a good pace with chances falling to both teams.
Spalding were dealt a scare when Jacob Baker went down unchallenged after he played a pass clutching his leg but, to the relief of everyone, he was able to go off unaided and come back into the action.
Spalding began to up the pressure on the Cambridge back line and great pressing from Darren Grooby saw him intercept a pass and square the ball to Dan Azzopardi who first time swept the ball into the net.
Superb work rate in the midfield from Matt Hulme, Harry Naylor and Harry Blackman kept the University team quiet without testing the Maroons' goalkeeper.
Spalding started the second half on the front foot and won a penalty corner following some good pressing again from the forward line.
Stuart Cunnington's reverse stick stop was smartly saved by the keeper but Grooby was on hand to push the ball into the back of the net.
This sparked a reaction from Cambridge but the defence held firm until a quick break saw the visitors working the ball quickly in the D and, despite the best efforts of Oscar Haunch in goal, the ball was flicked into the net.
Spalding reacted again by winning a series of penalty corners and a superb strike from the top of the D saw Jacob Baker make the score 3-1.
Again, the game took another turn as Cambridge attacked down the wing and a ball fired across the D saw a striker and Haunch going for the ball.
Confusion then came as everyone assumed a long corner would be awarded, however, the umpire deemed the striker touched the ball and awarded a goal.
Spalding dug deep and, with tired legs and quick rotations happening, it allowed Will Baker to smash a ball across the D that hit Grooby's stick and looped over the keeper into the back of the net.
For the last five minutes, Cambridge pulled their keeper but Spalding professionally saw the game out to start 2024 with three points.
They opened Sunday's match strongly with some quick interlinking play which eventually found Jacob Baker with a lot of time to fire a ball through to Will Baker who professionally slotted the ball around the keeper into the bottom corner.
Spalding were still on the front foot and continued to dominate possession.
A smart aerial from Cunnington was picked by Jacob Baker on the opposition's 25 where he found Will Baker who once again put the ball into the back of the Nomads net.
From here Spalding started to struggle to get a grip of the game with Haunch needing to make numerous outstanding saves.
Nomads began finding pockets of space where they could exploit the Spalding defence which led to them eventually scoring a deflection from a crash ball.
With the first half coming to a close, Spalding searched to regain their two goal cushion and they won themselves a short corner which was expertly dispatched by Cunnington.
The second half started off very scrappy with both teams struggling to control play.
A bouncing ball caught the Spalding defence off guard which led to a hectic scramble in-front of goalkeeper Haunch and unfortunately, despite his best efforts, the ball was pushed into the net.
With the game sat at 3-2, Spalding dug deep and, with relentless work from the defence of Phil Callow, Harry Maplethorpe, David Dorey and Brendan Morris, the scoreline was secured at the final whistle. A special well done to Liam Fravigar for a massive debut performance.
The men's second team went down to a 3-2 defeat against Cambridge University 3rds despite goals from Brendan Atkin and James Grant.
The third team lost 6-0 against Cambridge University 4ths while the fourth team drew 1-1 with Newmarket 3rds in a game where the goal led a charmed life throughout.
Spalding dominated the first half but fell behind to Newmarket's only attack when Eddie Sawyers' great attempt at a save from a short corner just failed to keep the ball out.
The first half was all Spalding and they deservedly equalised when Pete Wright slotted past the keeper at close range.
In the second half, Spalding had a series of short corners but couldn't find their way past a resolute defence and inspired goalkeeper - on another day several goals would surely have followed.
With 10 minutes to go, Newmarket found a little bit of forward momentum and could have scored with the last hit of the game, but the ball stayed out.
Spalding deserved more than a point but the progress from when they lost to the same opposition earlier in the season 11-0 continues at a pace.
Spalding Ladies' second team moved into top spot after a hard-fought 2-1 derby victory over Bourne Deeping on Saturday.
They took the lead from a penalty corner with Sophie Wilson's precise injection setting up a battle between Karen Timby and the keeper that resulted in a skilful goal.
Spalding extended their lead to 2-0 before half-time as Charlotte Maplethorpe's drive down the line set up a perfect cross to Honor Moore who expertly slapped the ball into the net.
However, Bourne Deeping roared back in the second half, working the ball into the D and managing to score, narrowing the gap to 2-1.
Spalding held on to their win with their defence, including player of the match Leanne Isaac-Pick, working effortlessly to prevent Bourne Deeping scoring an equaliser.
The ladies first team were beaten 7-1 at St Ives in one of their most difficult games of the season.
The match started well with Spalding playing the ball around and moving into space.
St Ives pressed hard, advancing into Spalding’s half, desperate to score.
After a tough attack, St Ives scored despite the effort from Spalding’s defence to stop them.
St Ives continued to pressure Spalding but Abigail Hodgett denied their chances to score on more than one occasion as the Maroons went in 5-0 down at the break.
Spalding started the second half determined to maintain possession and pressure St Ives and Ellie Holland took an impressive shot which flew past the keeper.
St Ives continued their attacks and managed to score twice more as the excellent work of Charlotte Maplethorpe in defence ensured no further goals were scored.
The ladies' third team built on their win before Christmas with a 2-0 home success against Bourne Deeping.
From the outset, they were able to utilise the width and start challenging the opposition.
Forwards Chloe P and Lucy McClements were weaving in and out and slipping the ball to each other throughout the game, putting pressure on Bourne.
Bourne Deeping at times did break quickly but the Spalding defence kept calm and were able to find the sticks of midfielders, player of the match Vicky Worrall and Camille Rogers, who were able to ensure that the attackers had opportunities to shoot at goal.
A beautiful ball from Kelly Tizzano found winger Holly Gleave who crossed it into the D which then found the always impressive Sharon Amess.
She then crossed it across the goal to the patient Vicky Worrall and she quickly slid the ball and herself across the line to take it to 1-0.
The Spalding side then continued to work together to keep Bourne out of the D.
They were happy with their performance and were determined to ensure they grabbed a win.
And, soon into the second half, a cheeky run from Sam Foston and then a superb ball from Amess deflected off the opposition and the lightning reactions from Jennie Bradley reversed volleyed the ball into the back of the net to take the score to 2-0.
The home side continued to put pressure on Spalding and were awarded two short corners, however, impressive goalkeeper Eliza Morris certainly stood her ground and ensured nothing went past her.
