Red-hot Spalding 1st kept their impressive start to life in East Men’s Hockey League Division One going with a 3-2 victory over fellow high-fliers Ipswich East Suffolk on Saturday.
In a game that pitted second-placed Spalding against an Ipswich side that arrived at Glen Park in third position, the home side required a stellar second-half showing to ace their toughest test of the season so far.
With IES boasting a former Australian international among their ranks, Spalding did their best to nullify him in the first period. But they went in 1-0 down at half time thanks to a drilled effort by a defender from a long corner.
Spalding levelled early in the second period when Stuart Cunnington turned home a cross from skipper Josh Rowbottom.
Cunnington then doubled his money when he stepped up and drag flicked low past the keeper’s left foot from a short corner to put the home side ahead for the first time.
Things got even better for Spalding when Rowbottom broke from the half way line and slipped the ball through to Russ Watts, who selflessly squared it for Univeg man-of-the-match Jack Drury to coolly fire home for 3-1.
Ipswich did pull one back, but Spalding held firm to make it five wins from six games – a return that leaves them three points behind leaders Chelmsford 2nd.
Up in Premier B, South Holland’s leading side Long Sutton 1st were handed a big 8-1 reverse against second-placed Ipswich 1st.
Sutton, who are now in the bottom three, never really recovered from falling 3-0 behind and only had a consolation effort from Jimmy Harrison to shout about at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Meanwhile, Alex Canham struck twice to earn Long Sutton 2nd a 2-1 triumph at basement boys Ely 2nd in Division 3NW.
After winning a spree of short corners, Canham dispatched one to put Sutton ahead at the interval.
Ely improved after the break and only top defending by Matt Holmes, man-of-the-match Stuart Belding, Michael Donaghy and Sam Gray kept them at bay before the leveller finally arrived.
Sutton showed great fighting spirit after that, though, and sealed a hard-fought victory when Belding linked with Nick Bailey. His shot was saved, but Canham was able to prod home.
It wasn’t such a great day for Spalding 2nd in the same division, though. They were handed a 7-2 beating by Wisbech 2nd, with Glenn Perkins and James Doolan their scorers.
There was better news for Spalding 3rd, who remain well positioned in Division 4NW after dispatching Bourne/Deeping 3rd 5-1.
Darren Grooby’s deflected effort put Spalding ahead, before with Tom Shinkins doubled their lead on the stoke of half time.
A penalty flick got Bourne/Deeping back in the game early in the second period, but Joe Rogers’ penalty corner soon restored Spalding’s two-goal cushion.
It was 4-1 when Dave Burrell rounded two players and played an excellent ball in for Steve Rogers to score, with Peter Gray’s fantastic reverse stick shot rounding off the scoring late on.
Down a level in Division 5NW, Spalding 4th picked up an impressive 1-0 success at Alford and District 2nd to make it three wins for the season.
After a goalless first period, Andy Stone broke the deadlock midway through the second period with a neat finish.
In the same division, Long Sutton 3rd were outgunned 8-3 at March Town 2nd.
Having fallen 3-0 down, Jack Smith struck to get Sutton back in the game just before half time – only for a penalty flick to put March 4-1 ahead at the break.
That soon became 6-1, and although Ed White and Ian White pulled goals back for Sutton, they shipped two more before the close.
In Division 6NW (N), bottom duo Long Sutton 4th and Spalding 5th squared off in an entertaining clash.
Dan Oldfield reacted quickly to fire in a rebound from Gary Hales’ strike to put Sutton ahead at half time, but two great goals from Jack Martin turned the game on its head and put Spalding 2-1 up.
A Hales short corner levelled matters once again, but Martin completed a well-deserved hat-trick to give Spalding – who had only nine men on the pitch towards the end – a 3-2 victory and their first win of the season.
Saturday’s fixtures
Premier B – Harleston Magpies 2nd v Long Sutton 1st (2pm).
Division 1 – Old Southendian 1st v Spalding 1st (1.30pm).
Division 3NW – Long Sutton 2nd v Cambridge Nomads 1st (2.30pm); Spalding 2nd v Bourne/Deeping 2nd (12.30pm).
Division 4NW – COP 7th v Spalding 3rd (11.30am). Division 5NW – Spalding 4th v Cambridge South 4th (2pm); Long Sutton 3rd v Bourne Deeping 4th (11.30am).
Division 6NW (N) – Louth 2nd v Long Sutton 4th (11am); Spalding 5th v Bourne/Deeping 6th (3.30pm).
