Spirited Spalding 1st were knocked out of the England Hockey NOW Pensions Trophy on penalty flicks after a thrilling 4-4 draw with higher-graded Norwich City 1st on Sunday.
The second round clash was in intriguing one for promotion-chasing Spalding, against a Norwich side performing well in the Premier B division they hope to be competing in next season.
However, it looked like a heavy defeat was on the cards when the hosts raced into a 3-0 lead inside 18 minutes. Crucially, Spalding pulled one back before the break when Will Baker’s miss-hit shot was tapped in by Russ Watts.
That became 3-2 early in the second period when Stuart Cunnington finished a short corner smartly into the side of the net.
Another Norwich goal then made it 4-2, only for the hosts to be reduced to ten men twice after moments of indiscipline.
Goal machine Cunnington capitalised with his second of the day, before Mark Riley slapped home a scrappy equaliser in the closing stages to force flicks – which Spalding were very unlucky to lose 4-3.
There was better news for Spalding’s top side 24 hours earlier, as they moved top of East Men’s League Division One with a confident 5-1 triumph at Bishops Stortford 1st.
Two early Cunnington strikes put the visitors 2-0 to the good, before Russ Watts added a third to put them in command.
A tame strike from the hosts did see them reduce the deficit to 3-1 before the break, but Henry Temple-Baxter and Baker bagged in the second period to wrap up the points.
Up in Premier B, Long Sutton 1st were smashed 9-3 by the same Norwich side that beat Spalding on penalties.
Josh Fyson and Danny Sisson notched to have South Holland’s top ranked side in the game at 3-2, but Jimmy Harrison’s goal in the second period proved to be nothing more than consolation.
In Division 3NW, Spalding 2nd earned a 4-1 victory over old foes Louth 1st – who were the only side to beat them in their promotion campaign last term.
Glenn Perkins and Tim Maltby put them 2-0 ahead, before Louth pulled one back. However, Joe Higgins pulled one back on the stroke of half time to give the scoreline a more comfortable look.
Both sides were reduced to ten men in the second period, but that didn’t stop Joe Doolan from finishing off the scoring.
Also in 3NW, Long Sutton 2nd were handed a 2-0 reverse by high-flying Cambs South. Sam Gray was man-of-the-match for Sutton in a game where two quick-fire goals proved the difference.
Meanwhile, Spalding 3rd suffered a shock loss to basement boys Alford in Division 4NW. Despite a couple of well taken goals from Tom Shinkins, Spalding became the first side to lose to Alford this season.
Down a level into Division 4NW, Long Sutton 3rd hammered Alford 2nd 9-0 in the big victory of the day.
Player-of-the-match Harry Synnott led the charge with a five-goal haul, with doubles from Michael Donaghy and Matt King rounding off the rout.
Spalding 4th also won convincingly in the same division, beating Wisbech 4th 3-0. Rob Tilbrook, Dominic Ibrahim and Ryan Davy got the goals.
Division 6NW (N) saw Long Sutton 4th beaten 2-0 by leaders Leadenham 2nd, while Spalding 5th were edged out 1-0 by City of Peterborough 9th.
