Spalding Hockey Club’s leading side moved a step closer to clinching back-to-back East Men’s League promotions with an impressive 4-1 win over free-scoring Pelicans on Saturday.
The Glen Park clash served as one of the toughest remaining fixtures for the Division One leaders, with fourth-placed Pelicans arriving in town as the league’s leading scorers.
Pelicans went ahead inside two minutes, but Spalding soon settled and Stuart Cunnington levelled the scores with a well-placed flick.
Connor Allen then put Spalding ahead from the penalty spot midway through the half – and then added number three with a sweet strike just before the interval.
Although he saw a penalty flick strike the post, Allen was able to complete a well-taken hat-trick before the end as a confident Spalding team close in on promotion to Premier B.
That’s a division that Long Sutton are still battling to stay in after they slipped to a 3-2 loss against relegation rivals Cambridge Uni 2nd.
It all started so well for Sutton as Danny Sisson fired them ahead inside 30 seconds following a sweet one-two with Will Cook.
A disastrous period followed as they shipped goals either side of half time to fall 3-1 behind, before Josh Fyson pulled one back.
Sutton piled on the pressure late on, but were unable to beat an inspired keeper. As a result, Sutton are now just one point above the bottom two.
Also facing a relegation battle are both Spalding 2nd and Long Sutton 2nd in Division 3NW.
It was a day to forget for Spalding 2nd, as they were beaten 10-0 by leaders Cambridge Nomads.
Decimated by injury and illness, they just couldn’t handle the runaway table-toppers.
With second-from-bottom Sutton 2nd not playing, they now have a game in hand on Spalding 2nd are are just a point behind them.
Spalding 3rd continue to go great guns in Division 4NW, though as Steve Rogers’ side kept their promotion dream alive with a 5-2 win over Cambs Nomads 2nd.
First-half with goals from Sam Sly and Rob Tilbrook put them 2-1 ahead at the interval. A couple of goals from predator Tom Shinkins and a fine finish from Joe Doolan then sealed the victory to move Spalding to within three points of the top two.
Down in Division 5NW, Spalding 4th suffered a blow to their hopes of a top two finish as they succumbed 6-0 to second-placed Cambs City 5th.
Spalding never really got to grips with an experienced and well organised opposition, but are still performing superbly after last year’s promotion.
In the same division, Long Sutton 3rd suffered a 3-2 reverse against St Ives 4th, despite goals from Matt King and player-of-the-match Sam Gray. Despite the result, it was Sutton’s best showing of 2015.
p Spalding Poachers 1st remain top of East Women’s League Division 2NW after a 3-0 victory over Cambs Nomads Ladies’ 1st on Saturday.
Katie Gray used her speed and skill to tee up Kelly Tuplin for the opener on 11 minutes, before a penalty corner from Kelly Slater doubled the advantage.
A fine solo goal from Gray after 47 minutes sealed the win and keeps Spalding two points clear at the top.
However, Long Sutton Ladies’ 1st are now 11 points off the top two after a 2-2 draw with Cambridge University Ladies’ 2nd in the same division.
Amber WIld and Robyn Gribble had given Sutton a 2-0 lead, but in the end they were indebted to a player-of-the-match performance from keeper Lorraine Wallis as they held on for 2-2.
Down in Division 3NW (N), Spalding Poachers 2nd are seven points behind leaders Lincoln 2nd – and seven clear of third-placed Leadenham – after seeing off Skegness Ladies’ 1st 4-2.
Charlotte Morris, Holly Hetherington, Kate Beeson and AJ Bunyan got the goals.
Spalding Poachers 3rd then beat Long Sutton Ladies 2nd 4-1 in an all-South Holland clash in the same division.
Emma Gent’s first-half double put Spalding in command, before Rebecca Kierman pulled one back for Sutton early in the second half.
However, Ellie Holland and Lauren Pitts scored to cement the points for the Poachers and make it an impressive five wins in a row.
