Report: 1st XI Men vs Cambridge Nomads 1 – March 23, 2024

Match Report 23/3/24

Spalding hosted bottom club Cambridge Nomads to see if they could end the season with three points and clinch a top 5 position. The game started off in Spaldings 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 pressed Spalding into making errors through and in midfield. The visitors scrappily converted one of a number of short corners to go into half time 2-1 up. With renewed vigour from the Sicialian oranges on offer during half-time, Spalding set about hunting down a victory from behind. High value passes through wide channels and good combinations in midfield through Naylor, Harris and Baker saw Spalding win a penalty flick. Jacob Baker converted to bring the scores level at 2-2. But like in the first half, as opposed to pushing on, energy levels dropped for which Nomads capitalised. Nomads earned a short corner against the run of play, but the ball ended up being squeezed into the bottom corner. Soon after, a counter attack made it 4-2 with unusually slack marking at the back. Seemingly the two goal, sprung the hosts back into action once again and nearing the end Cunnington converted his second short corner of the game with Spalding pressing to equalise before the final whistle. Alas, it wasn’t to be, the score remaining 4-3 to the visitors- the hosts knowing that they had not played their best through unforced errors and a lack of quality link up play. That’s said, across the whole of the season there have been many positives to draw upon in Division One North, which stands them in a good place for next year in this league.

MoM – Harry Blackman 

DoD – Brendan Morris