Spalding 5ths Development took on their counterparts from Cambridge in another tough friendly that saw the home team sneak a win after being pegged back from a two goal lead.
It was a good even game with both teams playing some good flowing hockey although the more experienced Cambridge side showed pace and team play, and if it wasn’t for goalkeeper Steve making some cruical saves, the scoreline could have easily swung the other way.
Spalding started strongly and scored twice within the first fifteen minutes. Some great link up play from Dylan, Jake and Pete saw the ball passed to Will and the young striker calmly turned strongly and placed the ball in the bottom right hand corner of the goal. It got better when Spalding doubled their advantage following a quick ball from Pete to Rob and the goalkeeper turned striker placed the ball into the back of the goal.
Spalding’s defence of Sam, Si, Alex & the more experienced James & Andy kept firm with Harry, Freddie, and MOM for the second consecutive game Isaac, worked hard on the flanks.
However Cambridge nicked a goal back ten minutes before half-time to leave the second half finely poised. During the break, Kev and James swapped places with Kev guesting for the travelling side in the first half alongside with Danny for the entire game.
Spalding didn’t have the best of halves in the second period as they lost their shape allowing Cambridge to move forward in waves putting the home goal under pressure. And it was no real surprise when South equalised after fifteen minutes. However to Spalding’s credit, despite probably not the best that they will have played, they kept their heads under pressure and after a rare break, retook the lead via a harsh deflection from the guesting James’s stick following Dylan’s excellent short corner shot.
Spalding held on for a hard worked win and travel to Kings Lynn on Friday night to play Pelicans that will be a huge test for the young side.
Thanks go to Matt & Clive for umpiring and to Cambridge South for such a friendly game.