Local derby ends in heartbreak

Bourne Deeping 1st XI welcomed Spalding to Glinton on Saturday, hoping to bounce back from an opening day defeat with victory over their nearest neighbours in the league. The home side started strongly, defending resolutely and passing the ball around well. Stuart Biggs soon struck from a short corner, drag flicking low past the keeper.
The lead did not last long, Spalding responding quickly with a neatly taken deflection, and the game began to open up soon after.
Despite having more of the game and the lion’s share of the chances, Bourne Deeping fell behind shortly before half-time, conceding to a low drag flick. The home side then held on until half-time, escaping from a period of high pressure and contested umpiring decisions to enter the break 2-1 down.
A rousing team talk produced results, Bourne Deeping having all the possession for the first fifteen minutes of the second half. For all the pressure, however, goals proved hard to come by and some profligate finishing was soon punished, Spalding scoring with their first attack of the half - this one a strong drag flick to the keeper’s right.
Bourne Deeping stormed back into the game, grabbing one back in controversial circumstances from a short corner before a very well-worked piece of play down the right led to the equalising goal being swept in from the top of the D.
With just two minutes left to hold out, the good money was on a draw - and this was the least the home side deserved - but Spalding mustered one final attack and managed to squeeze home a rebound after a good save from Adrian Portlock.
Despite the late heartbreak, there were many positives to take from the match for the Dragons, not least the performance of young debutant Oscar Morley who took to East Premier B like a duck to water and defended strongly throughout.

Written by: Joe Youngs