Linslade Galaxy Spartak travelled to the village of Kislingbury on the outskirts of Northampton to face a TFA Lions side, who were full of confidence after some great results had left them third in the table and with a League Cup final to look forward to. Despite recent rain the pitch was in excellent condition and the match kicked off in sunny conditions.

The early pressure came from TFA, but without generating any shots. Then in a pulsating 2-minute spell both teams will have thought they should have scored. Firstly, Dylan had a shot saved and Mali's effort on the rebound was also saved somehow for a corner, which came to nothing. Then, in a TFA corner their shot was cleared off the line and the follow up went over.

After this initial action the first half was one dominated by the home side and they continually attacked for much of the half. Certainly Thomas was very busy in the Spartak goal, saving comfortably a long free-kick after 17 minutes, anxiously watching a cross from the left that looped over him and hit the crossbar, and blocking a fierce drive from 15 yards on the half hour mark.

As the first half drew to a close TFA made their way through and the effort on goal went past Thomas and fortunately also past the far post.

There was no doubt that TFA looked the most likely to score as they dominated possession and territory, but Galaxy were defending well and TFA were limited to only a couple of clear cut chances. Galaxy gradually grew into the half, but too often gave the ball away cheaply. Aiden coming on midway through the first half made a difference, but the question was whether Galaxy would tire in second half after chasing shadows for much of the first.

TFA came out firing at the beginning of the second half with a couple of long range shots and then Caelan tackled brilliantly to thwart a dangerous looking attack. Sadly, however, Linslade could not hold out any longer. The TFA left winger got their cross in and their player back heeled it in from 7 yards. An unfortunate goal for Galaxy to concede, as it was just an instinctive effort that could have gone anywhere, but it went straight to the top of the net.

The shackles came off Spartak once they were a goal down and they spent much of the rest of the second half on the attack. After 8 minutes a long free kick from Aiden was saved by the home keeper. Then within a couple of minutes Luke W had his effort saved and Caelan had an attempt on goal.

TFA quickly went to the other end and it took a desperate clearance from Elliot to prevent a goal.

The next 10 minutes were all Linslade and they started to pass the ball nicely. Kiro, in particular, linked up well and fed through some nice passes. Spartak's pressure led to a series of corners, but it was actually a few of long-range strikes that generated applause from the crowd. Firstly, Owen's shot from 25 yards was spectacularly saved by the opposition keeper, and then Tycho's long range effort went wide, then Theo got in on the act and his effort from 18 yards was saved by goalie out for a corner.

After playing so well, Spartak will be disappointed that they switched off from a quickly taken throw in. TFA cut through the middle and prodded the ball past Thomas to double their lead. After 30 minutes TFA really should have had a third as another counter attack led to an effort saved by Thomas but TFA skied the rebound over an open goal. Not long after Joseph did really well to clear off the line from a dangerous corner.

As the match drew to close Linslade upped the intensity once again. Luke W turned in the box but his effort went wide, whilst there were more chances in injury time but Spartak couldn’t find a consolation goal.

Overall, this was a tight match, which TFA edged, but one where Spartak's defence held firm and restricted TFA to largely speculative efforts. Meanwhile, their second half performance of the midfield and attackers did not get the goal it deserved and Galaxy had to leave Northamptonshire with nothing to show for their efforts.