Report: 3rd XI Men vs Cambs City 5s – September 20, 2025

Spalding 3rds travelled to Cambridge City to play a side that would be one of the favourites to be promoted out of Division 4NW of the East Hockey Leagues.

Spalding had five junior third team league debutants in a thirteen strong squad that had eight aged fifteen and under. The youngsters acquitted themselves extremely well despite the clear difference in speed and skill level that they were used to and came away with a lot of plaudits from the sporting home side.

The game started in the worst conceivable way as Spalding conceded a goal after only two minutes of the game had elapsed. However, the side rolled up their sleeves up and got themselves into the game with grit, determination, and no lack of hockey prowess.

However, for all their hard work, the second goal of the game came to the home side after Spalding just couldn’t quite clear their lines. However, this didn’t deter the visiting side, and they managed to create some clear-cut chances forcing several short corners towards the end of the first half. But they couldn’t convert the chances so the half-time arrived at a two-goal deficit.

The second half, started as the first half ended with Spalding looking to break when they could against an exceptionally good Cambridge side. As the game wore on, Cambridge took advantage of a tiring side and scored another two goals.

Spalding kept going but the tiredness factor certainly had a hand in Cambridge’s final three goals as all goals could have been easily prevented. But there is no individual blame, the team works as a unit, and the crucial point is that there would have been lessons learnt. If everyone learns from that, then they only get better.

The three’s next game is at home against Pelicans in another encounter that could be a tough assignment.

Team: Eddy Sawyer, Martin Perkins, Paul Pearson, Lorenzo Mendoza, Sam Hicks, Andy Barlow, Alex Myland, Ethan Worrall, Tim Amess, Dylan Hind, Fred Neal, Rafa Read, Cheston Palmer.

MOM: Ethan Worral

DOD: Fred Neal (you need a hockey stick to play Fred….)