Spalding Grammar School’s senior team continued their quest for LB Cup glory with a 1-0 quarter final victory over Loughborough Grammar School.
Possession belonged mainly to Spalding in a goalless first half, with the midfield duo of Timmy Magnus and Sam Howell pulling the strings. Magnus twice went close to scoring when attacking crosses from Jonny Allen and Ryan Kirchin, while at the other end the defence, led superbly by Ben Nottingham, coped comfortably. With strikers Alex Vassallo and Alex Wood holding the ball up well, Howell and Allen both had strikes on goal in the second period as hosts Grammar enjoyed a great spell. That culminated in man-of-the-match Magnus rifling his third goal of the tournament home from fully 25-yards. Loughborough searched for a leveller, but Spalding held on to keep a fourth clean sheet in a row and book a last four clash with Haberdashers’ Aske’s Boys’ School in Hertfordshire. Boss Dave Endersbee said: “This was yet another solid performance from the lads. I am really proud of them. The way they are controlling matches and playing with resilience is better than I have ever seen a senior team play. Confidence continues to build, and I have every reason to believe that we can go on to win this tournament.” Spalding (4-4-2): Shuster; Pryke, Nottingham, Sharman, Bird; Allen (Dicker), Howell (c), Magnus, Kirchin (Want); Wood, Vassallo (Wilshire).