JWMatchReport SPALDINGUNITED (A) 18-02-2023

It was the home side that came out strongly after the break. Full back Aaron Hart joined his attack but fired just wide but in their next attack after 54 minutes the host side took the lead. Connor Peters broke up a St Neots attack and the ball was moved quickly forward and Hilliard produced the searching cross that found the head of Nat Ansu and he made no mistake from ten yards. On the hour St Neots sent on Manny Osei for the limping Brandon Njoku and then in a bid to freshen his side five minutes later Pete Gill made a further double substitution withdrawing Dan Barton and Jon-Paul Duncliffe, sending on Steve Sylvester and Jack Barnett. After 73 minutes the lively Ansu slipped the St Neots defence and forced James Goff into the save of the match and he then fielded another effort from Kyle Barker. The keeper also had to be alert to gather a lengthy effort from substitute Brad Rolt but in the final ten minutes Spalding changed their tactics pulling players back to defend their slender lead and St Neots found attempts to penetrate the packed defence very difficult. In a lengthy period of added time Dylan Edge broke away and forced another good save from Goff who has settled well into the side following the departure of Jamie Greygoose.

St Neots Town: Goff, Duncliffe, Smith, Anderson, Lewis, Dickens, Barton, Boxer, Njoku, Smyth, Charles

Subs: Osei (for Njoku 59 mins), Barnett (for Barton 78 mins), Sylvester (for Duncliffe), and Stallard

Cards: Boxer (Y – 68 mins)

Goals: none

Spalding United: Duggan, Hart, Draper, Barker, Stainfield, Peters, Jones, Hilliard, Ansu, Broccoli, Edge

Subs: Bucciero (for Draper 59 mins), Rolt (for Broccoli 72 mins), Cartwright (for Ansu 87 mins), Sandy, and Frost.

Cards: Draper (Y – 38 mins), Broccoli (Y – 68 mins)

Goal: Ansu (54 mins)

Attendance: 389

Referee: Karl Donaghey (Melton Mowbray)

John Walker