Alan Charevicius scored his maiden hat-trick to help rapidly-improving Spalding 4th climb away from the bottom of East Men’s Hockey League Division 5NW on Saturday.
The youthful Spalding side saw off Bourne/Deeping 5th 3-1 at Glen Park to register a fourth league success of the campaign and move into mid-table.
Spalding dominated much of the opening period with some slick moves through midfield, with Lawrence Smith-Hughes prominent.
Charevicius duly opened the scoring following a neat move involving Will Borst and James Reston, before the same player neatly converted a short corner soon after to make it 2-0 to the hosts.
That man Charevicius then completed his first-ever treble for the club before the break to give them a convincing 3-0 lead.
Keeper Jordan Butcher made some good saves in the second period and, although he was beaten once, Spalding held on to take the points.
Up in Premier B, Long Sutton 1st go into their winter break on a low note after losing their derby with Wisbech 1st 4-3.
Two Wisbech goals either side of a trademark Josh Fyson strike from a short corner left Sutton 2-1 down at half time.
The hosts hit back to level when Danny Sisson expertly lifted the ball over the diving keeper following a fine cross from Jamie Featherstone.
Sutton then took the lead for the first time when Jimmy Harrison found Fyson on the edge of the D with a brilliant disguised pass from a long corner. Fyson allowed the ball to roll over the line into the D and struck home a powerful reverse stick shot.
There was to be a sting in the tail, though, as Wisbech levelled and then won it from the last play of the game.
Sutton stay in the bottom three going into the traditional festive break.
In contrast, table-topping Spalding 2nd go into their break in very high spirits after dispatching Division 4NW rivals Bourne/Deeping 3rd 6-1 at Glen Park.
A mazy run and finish by Glenn Richardson and James Stone’s neat finish from inside the D gave Spalding a deserved 2-1 lead at the break.
Richardson doubled his tally with a smashed finish after the interval, before Joe Higgins’ deflected wonder-goal made it 4-1.
Richardson completed his hat-trick with another fine strike before Sam Sly marked his final game for the side with a delicate reverse flick around the keeper.
Spalding 3rd remain hot on their heels in third place after dispatching hosts Cambs Nomans 2nd 3-0. Two goals from Chris McKenna and one from Tim Maltby got the job done for Spalding.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Spalding 5th bagged a resounding 2-0 victory over league leaders Leadenham 2nd to finish 2015 with five consecutive victories.
Jack Martin and Andy Barlow got the goals that leave Spalding third at Christmas.
- Spalding Poachers 1st picked up a very decent 2-2 draw at high-flying Cambs City ladies’ 2nd in East Women’s Hockey League on Saturday.
Despite the point, they will spend Christmas in the bottom two of the table.
In Division 2NW, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st were handed a 3-0 reverse by St Neots ladies’ 1st.
Louise Billingham was their player of the match.
Meanwhile, Spalding Poachers 2nd won 6-2 at March ladies’ 1st in Division 3NW. Alanna ‘AJ’ Bunyan (2), Eva Keyes, Evie Maltby, Charlotte Morris and Annie Price got the goals.
