Spread Eagle 2

Hull Sunday Premier

Spread Eagle returned to action following a two week break with a trip to champions elect Smith & Nephew.

Recent performances at the Hull Uni venue meant Spread travelled with a degree of confidence even though they were down to the bare bones in terms of fit and available players.

Their hosts needed a win to clinch the Premier League title so the game had everything to play for.

The Eagles were again forced to take the field with only one recognised centre half in Craig Baker and again Mark Nellist let his experience do the talking by filling in alongside him.

The opening period was dominated by Smiths, however they failed to really threaten Jonny Horsley’s goal.

Spread finally got going and Steve Young and Dean Taylor started to use the great surface to their benefit, creating a number of chances for the visitors which unfortunately went begging.

Wayne Brooksby continued his fine form this season and linked up well with James Syme and Alex Gibson up front, although they were prevented from scoring with some fine goalkeeping by Dobson.

On the half hour mark the home side took the lead against the run of play when their striker fired home from the angle of the box underneath Horsley.

Moments later Horsley was forced off through injury and Baker took over between the sticks.

In the second half again Smith and Nephew started the stronger, stretching Spread, but again the Driffield side stuck to their task and even created a few chances themselves.

Smiths made two changes in a bid to extend their lead and finally broke through with a neat move that penetrated the Spread back line and a low shot found the bottom corner.

Direct from the kick off, Brooksby scored one of Spread’s goals of the season with a jinking run, a neat one two with Gibson before he opened up his body to sidefoot beyond the advancing Dobson.

Spread could even have salvaged a point when Shaun Kirby picked out Young, whose shot was again saved by Dobson.

With fifteen minutes left Smiths went three-one up with another good footballing goal. They could have extended their lead but Baker pulled of a number of fantastic saves to deny them another goal.

Spread did pull another goal back through Kirby to set up an exciting finish, but Smiths held on to claim the victory and with it the title.

Spread Eagle: Horsley (Kirby 45), Hakner, Hobson, Starrett, Baker, Nellist, Brooksby, Taylor, Syme, Gibson, Young.

o Spread Eagle still have two games scheduled to complete their season - a home game against bottom side Cross Key Rangers this Sunday, May 11, and a tough away fixture at second place Roplas on May 18.