An impressive first-half showing saw Spalding 1st begin the second half of their East Men’s Hockey League Premier B campaign with a 2-1 win at Felixstowe on Saturday.
High-flying Spalding fell behind early on against their mid-table hosts, but hit back before half-time thanks to strikes from Joe Higgins and Dan Needham.
Higgins bundled the ball home after a Josh Rowbottom short corner, while Needham buried what turned out to be the winner when he deflected a drilled Rowbottom strike into the goal.
Two yellow cards after the break ensured Spalding were up against it a little, but they never really looked like missing out on their eighth win of the season – which leaves them four points off second.
At the other end of the table, Long Sutton 1st battled out a 2-2 draw at mid-table City of Peterborough 2nd.
Danny Sisson and Ben Shore both went close as Sutton threatened in the first period, but the sides went in level at 0-0.
After the break, a high press caught out the COP defence – and allowed Sisson to round the keeper and put Sutton up one up.
The lead didn’t last long as the city side replied from a short corner, but Sisson’s cool finish 15 minutes from time put Sutton on the brink of a fine victory.
However, a simple back-post finish allowed COP to level once again – and that’s how it finished.
Down in Division 3NW, Long Sutton 2nd managed to get two games in over the weekend.
On Saturday, Sutton were handed a 5-2 reverse by COP 5th in what was a fine game at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Having fallen behind, Harry Synnott gracefully lobbed home a leveller just before the interval.
Three COP goals in the space of 20 minutes early in the second half essentially ended the game as a contest, but Gary Hales did neatly tuck away a penalty flick eight minutes from time.
Some 24 hours later, Sutton 2nd then defeated Louth 6-3 in a game played at Glen Park.
Player-of-the-match Will Cook (2), Shore (2), Hales and Luke Jackson bagged the goals.
In Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd returned to the top of the table with a thumping 10-0 victory over basement boys Ely City 2nd.
Tim Maltby (4) and Tom Shinkins (2) were amongst the scorers to move the 3rd side ahead of Spalding 2nd on goal difference.
Elsewhere, Spalding 4th were handed a 3-2 reverse by high-flying March 2nd in Division 5NW. Deane Baker and Adrian Bettinson got their goals.
There was a cracking South Holland derby in Division 6NW (N), as Spalding 5th saw off Long Sutton 4th 6-4 at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Jack Martin helped himself to four goals for Spalding, while Kieran Scholes and Alex Cunnington rounded off their scoring.
- Spalding Poachers 1st kicked off their 2016 fixtures in East Women’s League Division 1N with a 4-0 home loss against high-flying Wisbech ladies’ 1st.
In Division 3NW, Eva Keyes and Lucy Simpson netted to earn Spalding Poachers 2nd an impressive 2-1 success over Ely City ladies’ 1st.
Rock-bottom Spalding Poachers 3rd are still looking for their first win of the season after a 5-1 reverse at City of Peterborough ladies’ 3rd.
Imogen Elmer was their sole scorer.
Meanwhile, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st were busy in Division 2NW.
Lyn Tancred (2) and Leanne Woodhead notched as they defeated Alford 1st 3-2 on Saturday, before then suffering a 3-0 defeat against relentless leaders St Ives ladies’ 1st at Glen Park on Sunday.
