On a glorious sunny Saturday afternoon at Glen Park it started with the team remembering their friend and teammate Joe Higgins before the start of the game with Joe”s family joining the team on the pitch. His “34” shirt took its place on the sideline with the team. An emotional start to the game saw Spalding fly out of the traps and take a 1-0 lead through a Stu Cunnington drag flick. Wisbech came fighting back and equalised with a shot from the top of the D.
Spalding continued to press and fine solo individual effort from Jacob Baker saw him give Spalding the lead again.
With the game becoming end to end and emotions running high, a 50/50 decision that went in favour of Wisbech saw them equaliser from a penalty corner. The teams saw the half out and go in a 2-2.
Wisbech came out at the start of the second half the stronger team and took an early lead at the start of the second half. Spalding struggled to re gain control and lost a further 2 goals to Wisbech which gave them a 5-2 lead.
With 10minutes to play, Spalding pulled a goal back through a sharp first time finish from Dan Azzopardi at the back post. This gave Spalding belief and energy to push on and 2 minutes later a piece of individual skill from Cunnington found Will Baker on the post to tap home and pull the game back to one. Not to be denied Spalding tiredly pressed from the front and won a penalty corner with a minute to play. And in a fitting way in the “34th” minute of the second half Cunnington dispatched it to bring the game level to 5-5. A superb fight back from the team that showed courage and bravery to the final whistle.
Man of the Match – Jacob Baker