Ace goal-getter Stuart Cunnington smashed a terrific treble as Spalding 1st continued their promotion push in East Men’s Hockey League Premier B with a 4-3 derby win at Wisbech 1st.
In what was a very physical game, Spalding went 1-0 down after ten minutes as Wisbech attacked with pace and venom straight out of the blocks.
But Cunnington soon turned the game on its head, levelling with a piece of magic following an assist from new recruit James Grant before lashing home a short corner.
Wisbech equalised straight away, but Spalding led 3-2 at the break thanks to Josh Rowbottom’s finish from Dan Needham’s cross.
It was 3-3 in the second period when Wisbech walloped home a short corner, but Spalding and Cunnington weren’t to be denied.
He rounded off his treble from another short corner ten minutes from time, as his side secured a ninth win from 14 games to stay third.
At the other end of the Premier B table, Long Sutton 1st suffered a 4-1 reverse against relegation rivals Ipswich East Suffolk 1st.
Josh Fyson did fire Sutton ahead in the first period, but they were pegged back before the break.
Sadly the second half was one to forget, with Ipswich bagging three unanswered goals to consign Sutton to the bottom two.
It was also a tough day for Long Sutton 2nd in Division 3NW. With just 11 players available, including three young guns from the 3rd side, they battled to a 3-0 loss against leaders Cambs South.
Keeper James Cliff made countless saves, while Calvin Bishop and 14-year-old Tom Burton produced solid performance. Man-of-the-match went to fellow youngster Kane Portass, who produced a real masterclass.
Elsewhere, Spalding 3rd remain second in Division 4NW after a 4-0 win at CoP 7th.Tom Shinkins, Harry Bettinson, Richard Hayter and skipper Steve Rogers saw them home.
Behind them on goal difference, with a game in hand, are Spalding 2nd after they beat Cambs South 2nd 5-1. They were inspired by a Glenn Richardson hat-trick, with James Stone and Daniel Adams rounding off the rout at Glen Park.
In Division 5NW, Spalding 4th grabbed their fifth win of the season by seeing off basement boys Cambs South 4th 3-0. Their goals came from Darren Willson, Deane Baker and Ryan Mountney.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Spalding 5th were beaten 4-2 at high-flying Horncastle 2nd.
Kieran Scholes and Jack Martin netted as Spalding gave a good account of themselves.
In the same division, Long Sutton 4th romped to a 6-0 victory over rock-bottom Bourne/Deeping 6th.
Player-of-the-match Josh Baker led the charge with a hat-trick, while John Sullivan (2) and Matt Goodley finished the job.
- A battling Spalding Poachers 1st side went down 3-0 at home to East Women’s League Division 1N promotion hopefuls Lincoln Lindum at Glen Park on Saturday.
Despite Karen Timby and Di Bevan working tirelessly in midfield, Lindum proved too strong for the Poachers.
In Division 2NW, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st moved into the top four with a 1-0 win over Cambs City 3rd. Leanne Woodhead fired the only goal.
In Division 3NW, goals from Akayla Newton and Sam Foston earned Spalding Poachers 2nd a 2-0 win over St Ives ladies’ 2nd, while Spalding Poachers 3rd were beaten 5-0 by Haverhill 1st.
