s.a.w.p.c
MATCH REPORTS
SPALDING VS KETTERING B (Away) February 2nd 2012
This fixture marked Spalding's first competitive foray of the year and came with a substantial amount of pressure coming towards the end of the season with places in the standings up for grabs. Travelling were; Jon Davis (Goal), Adam Sellars, Jack Carpenter, Ben Marsters, Steve Rogers, Tim Shields, Nick Rickett, Dave Lord and James Seymour. Spalding quickly opened up a 3-0 lead by the end of the first and looked to be controlling play, but a spirited response from Kettering closed the gap to 3-2 by the end of the second. Then in the third quarter Spalding turned on the afterburners and began to make their greater speed and fitness tell. Jack Carpenter cut in from the wing, received, turned and banged in a top effort, closely followed by a screamer from Steve Rogers. Adam Sellars jumped into the play from defense and scored 2 in quick succession on the odd man rush to secure his hattrick, the second courtesy of a stylish assist from Ben Marsters. Tim Shields provided constant problems for the Kettering defense, only being denied by the woodwork on seperate occasions. Jack Carpenter then quickly secured things with another hearty swim, bagging his hattrick and a fourth. A lovely display of skill from Dave Lord rounded out Spalding's scoring. James Seymour, playing his first senior away fixture, coped excellently in defense alongside Rickett and Sellars, and provided a pretty assist in the third. By the end of the match, the pace of Carpenter and Marsters was evidently wearing down the Kettering side.
Final Score: 10-7
Spalding Scorers: Jack Carpenter (4), Adam Sellars (3), Steve Rogers (2), Dave Lord
Nick "the rocket" Rickett's post game refreshment score: 9/10 (if the nuts were in date it would have been 10!)
SPALDING VS BIGGLESWADE (Away) September 19th 2011
In their first return to Biggleswade since their tournament victory, Spalding were looking to take advantage of a wide pool suited to their quick, dynamic style of play. Travelling were; John Davis (Goal), Alan Butler, Adam Sellars, Nick Rickett, Jack Carpenter, Ben Marsters, Steve Rodgers, Tim Shields and Phillip Hall. From the off Spalding looked dominant, the defensive corps killing off what little offensive threat offered up by the opposition, with John Davis keeping a clean sheet until well into the final quarter. Nick Rickett opened the scoring for Spalding with a well placed shot, quickly followed by a Jack Carpenter goal to open up a lead that never looked threatened. Further goals from Tim Shield, Jack Carpenter, and a long range effort from Adam Sellars confirmed Spaldings dominance in this contest.
Final Score 6-1
Spalding Scorers; Jack Carpenter (3), Adam Sellars, Nick Rickett, Tim Shields
Nick "the rocket" Rickett's post game refreshment score: 6/10 (hot chips, excellent pork scratchings)
SPALDING VS THETFORD/NORWICH (Away) July 6th 2011
Following the elation of the preceeding weekends tournament win, Spalding came into this away fixture against their tourny final adversaries feeling justifiably confident. A big side travelled over for the match; John Davis (goal), Steve Rodgers, Phillip Hall, Tom Maxey, Jack Carpenter, Ben Marsters, Trevor Wardell, Nick Rickett, Adam Sellars, Alan Butler and Olly Favel, making his debut at senior level. Spalding looked stale in the opening stages, struggling to control the offensive juggernaut that was James Scotney (who went on to score 9 of Norwich's 12 goals). Somewhat questionable refereeing saw Spalding on the dud end of a 11-2 major disadvantage, which the opposition took full control of. Ultimately, this was not the same side that won the Biggleswade tournament, Tim Shields' 5 goal haul not enough to stem the Norwich advance.
Final Score 12-7.
Spalding Scorers; Tim Shields (5), Jack Carpenter, Adam Sellars
Nick "the rocket" Rickett's post game refreshment score: 4/10 (ale, very nice)
BIGGLESWADE TOURNAMENT. July 2nd 2011.
On the evening of July 2nd, Spalding took a 10 man squad away to the annual Biggleswade tournament; Jon Davis (goaltender), Adam Sellars, Jack Carpenter, Ben Marsters (captain), Trevor Wardell, Alan Butler, Tom Maxey, Nick Rickett, Steve Rodgers and Tim Shields. This was a team returning to a tournament they had finished as runners up in the previous year, having played strongly right up until the final match where the occasion took its toll and the Spalding side looked flat. Therefore, understandably, this year's squad was looking for the victory.
Spalding progressed comfortably through the group stage, beating Kettering 2-0, Hatfield 3-1 and Biggleswade 2-1. Teams struggled to deal with Spaldings' incisive speed down the wings, and couldn't penetrate the defenseive/goaltending combination. This put Spalding into a semi final game against Ipswich, which they came out of victors with a 4-2 result. The end result, a final showdown against a strong Norwich side led by ex-Spalding pit-man James Scotney.
The final was a close fought affair, Spalding determined not to fall at the last hurdle as they did in 2010. Spalding held a 2-1 lead for much of the game, even through a difficult period late in the first half where 2 men were majored, leaving 4 Spalding swimmers facing 6 Norwich shooters. In this clutch situation Spalding demonstrated controlled, shutdown defensive work, and incredible goaltending, killing off the penalties without conceding a goal.
After this point, Spalding totally dominated, taking advantage of a change in momentum to bang away 2 quick goals and take the match, and the tournament, 4-1. Understandably, a very happy bunch.
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