Spalding Poachers 1st’s hopes of completing a perfect season in East Women’s Hockey League Division Two North West are over after a 1-1 home draw with Cambridge City 4th on Saturday.
The champions had won their first 20 games, but are now just one game away from the equally impressive feat of going an entire season without defeat following the Glen Park stalemate.
They went ahead from a short corner in which Charlotte Maplethorpe slipped the ball to Georgina Maplethorpe, who scored an amazing flick into the top left corner.
Despite player-of-the-match Evie Maltby making a brilliant save off the line and Sally Pilgrim making some great tackles, Cambridge found a leveller before the close.
Also in Division Two North West, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st were held to a 1-1 draw against Bourne Deeping at the Peele Leisure Centre.
A deflected strike before half-time gave the visitors the lead, but Lisa Baker smashed home from a short corner to level the scores.
Jess Burton was player of the match for Sutton, who remain third from bottom.
In Division Three North West, Spalding Poachers 2nd were handed a 3-0 reverse at Cambridge South 3rd in their final away game of the season.
Spalding dominated the first half and played much of the game in their opponents’ D, but were unable to capitalise as the sides were locked level.
Three goals after the break were harsh on the Poachers, who deserved more from the game.
Club-mates Spalding Poachers 3rd lost 2-0 against Cambridge City 5th, with both goals coming in the first half.
Charlotte Morris was player of the match, while keeper Christina Dewing pulled off some brilliant saves.
Elsewhere, Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd won 1-0 at Cambridge South 5th in Division Five North west with Imogen Cooper the scorer.
Saturday fixtures: Kettering 1st v Sutton 1st (1pm); Bourne Deeping 1st v Spalding 1st (noon); COP 4th v Spalding 3rd (11.30am); Spalding 2nd v Huntington 1st (11am); Sutton 2nd v Ely City 3rd (11.30am).
