Spalding Hockey Club round-up
Spalding ladies' second team face a winner-takes-all promotion showdown on the final day of their East League season.
The Maroons are currently in second spot in Division 3NW after an emphatic 10-1 win against Wisbech 2nds on Saturday.
They now host third-placed St Ives 2nds at Glen Park on Saturday (11am) needing to avoid defeat to finish as runners-up.
Spalding started well at the weekend as, with just one minute on the clock, Charlotte Maplethorpe showed why she is vying for top spot in the East League top goalscorers table as she put away her first goal of the day after some neat dribbling along the baseline.
Two more goals followed to give the dominant visitors a commanding lead within a quarter-of-an-hour when Honor Moore got her first with a smart finish from a Kelly Cooper pass before Maplethorpe added her second.
Spalding continued to move the ball freely and didn't allow their opponents to get into the game.
A defender's foot on the goalline gave the ever-reliable Karen Timby the chance to step up and put away the resulting penalty stroke.
Moore also scored her second when she swept home from a Maplethorpe cross.
The Spalding defence had pressed Wisbech away from their D well, but conceded a goal to a special finish from a penalty corner save for a 5-1 lead at half-time where the talk was for more of the same.
The home team were determined to repel Spalding's attacks and the impressive Sue Robinson continued to snuff out the chances being created.
Maddie Haunch worked like a whirlwind in midfield and combined well with Kelly Cooper to move the ball into the attacking D.
It took almost 20 minutes before one of these attacks was put away with Maplethorpe finishing from a short corner to complete her hat-trick.
Leanne Isaac-Pick proved hard to pass and nullified the few opportunities coming Wisbech's way.
Textbook passing continued and more goals followed when Moore got her third after Emily Wright broke down a defensive clearance.
Roz Dennis got in on the scoring act when a sharp one-two with Zoë Moore from a penalty corner allowed her to smash the ball home.
Two more goals in two minutes from player of the match Maplethorpe made it double-figures and boosted Spalding's goal difference.
They now head into Saturday's match two points clear of St Ives 2nds and with a far superior goal difference.
The ladies' first team went down to a 3-1 defeat against second-placed St Neots in Division 2NW.
After a goalless opening period, St Neots took the lead early in the second half but Spalding continued to battle and won a short corner which Evie Maltby was successful in converting with a great slap in from the side of the D.
The game continued to be a battle between the two sides but St Neots managed to score yet again by a deflection off a short corner.
Spalding were eager to gain another goal but were unsuccessful and St Neots managed to score again towards the end.
Spalding ladies' third team produced one of their best performances of the season in a 2-2 draw with March.
The Maroons were determined to show progress compared to the first meeting with March and they quickly succeeded with this.
They secured a short corner and captain Charlotte Morris ensured she smashed it securely into the goal.
Player of the match Camille Rogers and sidekick Vicky Worrall dominated midfield, dragging players in many directions and switching the ball from left to right when needed.
Elosie Doughty and Honor Pearson successfully ran down the wings and used the space well throughout.
March, who are much higher in the league, attempted to put pressure on the Spalding defenders but Lisa Dean, Charlotte Morris and Kelly Tizzano had it covered for much of the game until the equaliser arrived after a flurry of short corners.
March came out for the second half determined to secure the win, but Spalding were equally as focussed.
Terri Bateman and Samantha Foston made some fabulous passes to one another to lure March into making some interesting tackles.
Lucy McClements, Chloe P and AJ Bunyan certainly showed off their strength in attack and modelled well to the youngsters in how to move and pass constantly to ensure the ball headed towards the goal.
March then grabbed another short corner and slipped it past Eliza Morris who had an excellent game with her saves and focus throughout.
Spalding knew they could grab another one back and balls to Holly Gleave and Khloe Brewster were utilised well and showed the progress they have made this season.
Special mention to Sharon Amess, who battled throughout and often led the charge up the pitch linking with every player at various points of the game.
In the last minute of the game, Spalding were awarded a short corner. It was hit out hard and Morris struck it sweetly but the keeper got a slight touch to it, however, Rogers ensured through a scrappy part of play that got it across the line to secure a draw.
A see-saw contest saw Spalding's men's first team beaten 4-3 by St Ives on Saturday.
The game started off fast in Spalding's favour with them winning a short corner early on in the first half.
The ball was played out and reached Stuart Cunnington who dragged it hard into the bottom corner, giving Spalding an early lead.
With continuous attacking play from Spalding, and some good passing, this led to Dan Azzopardi receiving the ball on the back post for a tidy finish to put Spalding into a two-goal lead with plenty of time left to play.
Many back and forth plays from both teams and some crucial saves from Oscar Haunch kept the score at 2-0.
However, later on in the first half, St Ives won a penalty corner in which they were able to capitalise from, leaving the score at 2-1 at the end of the first half.
The second half began with both teams wanting more and to get the three points which created several attacking plays in which nothing was able to come from.
Unfortunately for Spalding, St Ives won a penalty corner in which a drag flick from the top was able to bring them back level in the game.
Spalding went back on the attack and a precise reverse ball from Cunnington met William Baker on the back post to put the Maroons ahead once again midway through the second half.
However, shortly after, St Ives won another penalty corner where they once again were able to score from to equalise the game back at 3-3.
And, to ruin any efforts for Spalding, St Ives once again were able to put the ball in the goal from open play to lead for the first time in the game.
With Spalding fighting hard to try late on in the game to level the score up, they created many chances despite a green card for Harry Naylor but were unable to force an equaliser.
The men's second team went down to a 4-2 defeat against Cambridge South 3rds with their goals coming from Adolfo Chantre and Matt Pottle.
The third team returned triumphant from their last away game of the season after a 4-0 victory over City of Peterborough 6ths.
They started strongly and took the lead with Ben Scholes scoring.
Just before half-time, Scholes got his second to double Spalding's advantage.
The second half continued much the same but with Peterborough growing more into the game with more possession of the ball.
Spalding silenced their advances with a third goal from Glenn Richardson who then converted his second to finish the game in the Maroon's favour.
A very young Spalding fourth team, missing five seniors, went down 7-0 at third-placed St Ives in what was always going to be a tough game.
Spalding played well in the first half, but St Ives took the lead after 20 minutes through an accurate shot.
Steve Thurlbourne then saved a penalty flick brilliantly before St Ives scored a second a few moments later.
St Ives came out after the break greedy for more goal, scoring five despite the efforts of George Curio and Simon Goode.
Ultimately this was not a bad result considering there were a lot of players missing. Spalding play their penultimate game and final home match on Saturday at home to Ely 3rds.
