Report: 3rd XI Men vs St Neots 2s – January 17, 2026
MATCH REPORT Spalding M vs St Neots 2
Final Score: 1-5
Spalding faced a stern test as they welcomed second-placed St Neots 2s in what was always expected to be a challenging league fixture. A positive pre-match atmosphere saw Spalding take to the pitch determined to compete and leave everything out there.
The visitors started brightly, moving the ball quickly and accurately, but Spalding defended resolutely and absorbed the early pressure well. After ten minutes, St Neots were awarded a somewhat unfortunate short corner, which was clinically converted with a drag flick fired across goal to make it 1–0.
Spalding responded well to the setback, playing some encouraging attacking hockey, with Rafa and Cheston linking up effectively down the right-hand side. The first half, however, proved difficult as St Neots stepped up the pressure late on, scoring twice in quick succession. The first came via an unlucky deflection off Eddy’s stick, followed by a well-taken reverse-stick finish into the bottom corner. Matt was shown a green card earlier in the half for a stick tackle, and just before the interval Brian was also sent to the sin bin — despite the offence being committed by Tom — in a moment of mistaken identity from the umpires.
The half-time team talk focused on belief and intensity, with Spalding recognising they had shown St Neots too much respect in the opening period. That message paid dividends ten minutes into the second half when a well-worked move released Cheston one-on-one with the goalkeeper, and he finished calmly to pull a goal back for Spalding.
Any momentum was short-lived, however, as St Neots soon added another well-constructed goal. To Spalding’s credit, they continued to battle hard, defending bravely and preventing the visitors from completely taking control. The second half saw a marked improvement, with Hicksy, Cheston, Dylan, and Rafa combining well to put pressure on an experienced St Neots defence.
In the final quarter, St Neots capitalised on a quick break from the back, leaving the Spalding defence exposed, and their striker coolly pushed the ball past Eddy to extend the lead to 5-1.