Report: 2nd XI Men vs Pelicans 2 – November 16, 2024

Spalding 2s traveled to King’s Lynn to face Pelican’s 2s looking to push on forwards from previous performances.

 

The match begun quickly with Pelicans looking to press high from the off which both meant Spalding had to be careful when on the ball in defence, but allowed opportunities to counter quickly when the press was broken through. The first half was quite back and forth until Pelicans won a short corner which they were able to dispatch to take the lead. Not to be deterred Spalding kept their heads on and worked on pressuring the Pelicans high defence. Penning Pelicans back on a spell of pressure Tim Maltby pounced on the baseline to work the ball round defenders concerned at conceding a short corner to slip his shot past the outcoming keeper to level the scores. In a balanced half Pelicans proved to be clinical from short corners to put them into the lead going into half time.

 

The second half continued like the first with Pelicans aiming to press high leading to periods where Spalding had to deal with pressure before springing counter attacks or their own periods of holding onto the ball. On one counter attack working down the left side of the pitch Spalding again made the baseline before coming out and out to Olly Roy at the top of the d who got a yard from the defender and hit a low strike that was too awkward for the keeper to keep out. At level scores both teams knew a win was possible with chances on both sides until Pelicans won another dreaded short corner. A much more dubious goal this time with shouts and claims from Spalding that the ball deflected off the attackers leg before going in leading to the keeper being yellow carded for the remaining 8 minutes. Even at 10 men and 9 for two minutes Spalding gave it their all pushing for a goal that just would not come with the final whistle finishing the game at 3-2.