Report: 2nd XI Men vs City Of Peterborough 5 – March 15, 2025
Spalding 2nd team made the early trip over to Peterborough 5th team keen to make improvements on their last game.
With captain Arron Borst ineligible to play instead taking on a managerial role advising from the side Spalding started the first half with energy as a team both going forward and working backwards improving on winning the ball higher up the pitch when not in control of the ball than in previous weeks. These recoveries and pressure helped build Spalding into controlling the first half and carving out chances and causing problems for the Peterborough defence which finally broke from a short corner low drag flick from Harry Walsh beating the keeper and postman. Spalding found further success from short corners as Brendan Atkin swept in a rebound off the keeper into an open goal before the Boro defence could react. The consistent chances proved fruitful again as Harry Walsh got his second to bring Spalding into the half 3-0 up with the potential for more within the half.
A half time team talk reviewing the positives and the weariness of complacency Spalding headed into the second half hoping to continue their first half form. This did look to be the case, but complacency crept in with the effort levels and reliance on the basics that worked dipping along with some questionable umpiring decisions allowed Peterborough into the game. Two decisions to give light penalty corners to Peterborough resulted in two goals scored showcasing both teams effectiveness from short corners and putting Spalding on the back foot sustaining more pressure as the annoyance of decisions and not controlling the game finally caved to a 3rd goal from Boro leaving the last 5 minutes back and forth with both teams trying to win the game, but no further goals were scored and the points were shared with a 3-3 scoreline and Spalding suffering another game with inconsistent half’s of hockey to try and cut out for the final two games against the two teams behind them in the table.