Ellie Pybus netted a classy winner 15 minutes from time to secure Spalding Poachers 1st a 1-0 derby victory at rivals Long Sutton 1st in East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW on Saturday.
Both sides have endured slow starts to the season, with just one point separating the pair ahead of the clash at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Spalding failed to capitalise on their two short corners in a goalless first period, with some great saves from both keepers keeping the scores level at half time. That theme continued after the break as Spalding’s Lynn Sullivan saw two strikes saved by Lorraine Wallis.
But the breakthrough finally came when Claire Hindmarsh moved the ball past a few players and slipped it to the stick of Kelly Slater in midfield. A magnificent run from player-of-the-match Pybus then saw her collect the pass on the top of the opposition D and cream the ball into the back of the net.
Sutton battled back in the closing stages, but Poachers held on for the victory – and leapfrogged their rivals in the table as a result.
Elsewhere, Spalding Poachers 2nd suffered a 4-0 defeat at home to Bury St Edmunds in Division 3NW.
Down in Division 4NW (N), Spalding Poachers 3rd were held to a 0-0 draw at Bourne Deeping 3rd and Long Sutton 2nd drew 1-1 at Spilsby 1st thanks to a Katie Collingwood-Smith strike.
- Spalding 1st battled out a thrilling 4-4 draw with Waltham Forest 1st in East Men’s Hockey League Premier B.
They endured a rough start, with Forest racing into an early 2-0 lead at Glen Park. The hosts hit back when Stuart Cunnington slotted the ball past the right post with an excellent drag flick, bringing the game back to 2-1.
Waltham extended their advantage with a drag flick of their own, but Spalding hit back again when Harry Vickers finished off a superb team move.
Spalding then flew up the pitch with Cunnington receiving the ball on the top of the D, taking it onto his reverse stick and striking it into the top left corner to make it 3-3.
Parity didn’t last too long as Waltham restored their one-goal advantage, but Cunnington duly rescued a point with deadly short corner specialist Stuart Cunnington once again stepping up to the mark to level with his hat-trick strike.
Down in Division 2N, Long Sutton 1st roared to a 5-1 victory at Norwich Dragons 1st to secure thier second success of the season.
Goals from Josh Baker (2), Jacob Synnott, Alex Canham, Tyler Hagan capped a superb team performance.
Division 4NW continues to be dominated by the three South Holland sides.
Spalding 3rd lead the way after a 5-0 home triumph over Wisbech Town 3rd, with Ben Scholes (2), Glenn Perkins, Frazer Watt and Darren Willson all netting.
Long Sutton 2nd have slipped to second after a 6-1 home walloping against Cambs Nomads 2nd despite Luke Jackson’s strike. Two points behind them are Spalding 2nd, who were held 2-2 at Cambridge City 5th. They twice came behind to level thanks to goals from Ryan Mountney and Pete Wright.
In Division 5NW, Spalding 4th picked up a 3-1 success at Leadenham 2nd while Spalding 5th lost 3-0 at home to Bourne Deeping 5th in
Division 6NW (N). Staying in 6NW (N), Long Sutton 3rd drew 4-4 with Louth 2nd. Ian White (2), John Sullivan and Jon Goodley netted.
Fixtures: Men – Dereham 1st v Spalding 1st (noon); Sutton 1st v Cambs Nom 1st (2.30pm); Spalding 2nd v CoP 6th (2pm); Cambs South 2nd v Sutton 2nd (noon); Cambs Nom 2nd v Spalding 3rd (12.30pm); Spalding 4th v Louth 1st (3.30pm); Sutton 3rd v Leadenham 3rd (1pm); Spalding 5th v Louth 2nd (3pm).
Women – Cambs Nom 1st v Sutton 1st (11am); Spalding 1st v Pelicans 1st (12.30pm); Haverhill 1st v Spalding 2nd (11am); Spalding 3rd v Leadenham 1st (11am).
