Match 25. Spalding United v Guernsey

Saturday 9th February 2013@3pm
FA Vase 5th Round
SPALDING UNITED 1-3 GUERNSEY
Sir Halley Stewart Field, Winfrey Avenue

Admission: £6
Programme: £1.50
Attendance: 343
Guinness: £3.20
Cup-a-soup: £1

I arrived in Spalding with an hour to go before kickoff. The journey after leaving the A1 certainly confirmed my assumption how flat this part of the country is.  Not a hill in sight. I Parked in the carpark opposite the ground entrance for £1.30, which covers up to 4 hours. A vast stone wall runs alongside the road, with an entrance open for spectators and an iron gate for vehicles further along the wall. Programmes are only available inside the ground so I paid my admission and ventured in early rather than walk around the town.  The attendance was 3 times the average crowd so unsurprisingly programmes sold out at 2.30 with more than a few disappointed late entrants.
The ground has it's main stand towering over one halfway line and it's a belter, with the raised seating giving a great view of the action on the pitch. The entrance is near one corner of the ground.  Here you will find the food bar, changing rooms, and clubhouse. The clubhouse was very busy but the 3 behind the bar kept up with the Guernsey supporters thirst. There must have been around 70 who made the trip from the Island, and home supporters remarked there would have been more local support if Peterborough weren't at home. 

This was a typical FA Vase tie with both sides throwing caution to the wind on a wet by well maintained playing surface. Spalding took the lead after quarter of an hour when a superb shot by King beat the goalkeeper.  Guernsey stepped up their play and shortly afterwards, successive shots just skimmed the post and crossbar. Just before halftime, Guernsey drew level. A corner was cleared off the line but it fell to Allen who squeezed the ball in just inside the post.


At half time, two of the home defence were substituted, through injury rather than tactical, but Guernsey took the initiative to pounce before the subs had chance to settle. On 54 minutes, a shot by Louring found the net just inside the far post from an acute angle.  Then on the hour, Allen added his second goal of the game when he was the end product of a passing move beginning from the halfway line and involving 4 or 5 Guernsey players.  Spalding did produce a fighting last half and hour but they were unable to break the resolute Guernsey defence.