Report: 1st XI Men vs City Of Peterborough 2 – January 25, 2025
Spalding 1s 4 – 4 COP 2s
On a sunny afternoon in Surfleet, Spalding welcomed local rivals Peterborough in what was anticipated to be a feisty affair!
The game started off evenly with chances at both end of the pitch. Both keepers started the game well and kept the game goalless. Peterborough struck first from a penalty corner re take as Spalding scrambled to clear it, but it found the bottom corner. Spalding roared back and Cunnington’s through ball found Dan Azzopardi in the D who managed to reverse it across goal for James Grant to equalise. Peterborough came back at Spalding and despite Oscar Haunch reactions a loose ball found the striker to coolly finish to make it 2-1 to the visitors heading into half time.
Spalding raced out of the traps in the second half and a stunning Jacob Baker strike from the top of the D got the game back level. Spalding continued there attacking threat and took the lead for the first time through a glorious deflection through Matt Sanders to give Spalding the lead (3-2). The game as promised turned heated for a 10 minute period in the second half with 3 cards shown between the teams. Peterborough equalised through a penalty corner that found the bottom corner to bring the game level once again. Following this an end to end game ensured and a game of pinball in the D for the visitors saw the ball fall to there striker who made no mistake to once again given the visitors the lead 4-3. Once again, Spaldings character, resilience and determination shone through and with 7 minutes remaining Stu Cunnington flicked the ball superbly into the side of the net to bring Spalding level to 4-4. Spalding to a man battled until the final whistle and all 13 players came off the pitch immensely proud to gain a point.
Man of the Match – Matt Sanders