The top men’s team at Spalding Hockey Club capped a memorable week for everyone concerned with the club with a five-star showing in the East Men’s League on Saturday.
Spalding won the Lincolnshire Sports Club of the Year gong at the 2014 Lincolnshire Sports Awards on Thursday evening – and that spurred the men’s first team to a 5-2 Division One victory over Brentwood 1st at Glen Park.
A trademark drag flick from Stuart Cunnington put the hosts ahead early on, but a quickly-taken free hit hauled Brentwood level again.
Spalding went back ahead before half time when a great piece of individual skill by Cunnington saw him rifle his second into the roof of the net.
An early leveller pegged them back early in the second period, but man-of-the-match Rob Dalton ran the length of the pitch and calmly placed the ball over the keeper to put Spalding back in front.
The pressure was on when Josh Rowbottom picked up a yellow card, but late strikes from Russ Watts and Cunnington – who rounded off his treble – sealed the success for Spalding.
They’ve now won seven of their eight Division One games and sit level at the top with Chelmsford 2nd.
Up in Premier B, Long Sutton 1st were rather unlucky to go down 3-1 against second-placed Havering.
A deflected short corner put Havering ahead at half time, then two more goals in the second period essentially ended the game as a contest.
Will Cook pulled one back for Sutton, who felt they deserved more from a tight game.
Elsewhere, Spalding 2nd picked up a 4-2 victory at Ely 2nd in Division 3NW.
Having fallen behind early on, quick goals from Joe Higgins and Harry Vickers put Spalding in command.
Further goals from Chris McKenna and Glenn Perkins in the second half fired Spalding further ahead, before Ely pulled one back.
Second team debutant Vickers clinched the win with ten minutes left to render a late strike as mere consolation.
In the same division, Long Sutton 2nd were edged out 3-2 by hosts Louth 1st in something of a thriller.
After a goalless first period that saw James Cliff pull off a few fine stops, fine play from Ross Gavaghan and Luke Jackson allowed Alex Canham to fire Sutton ahead.
High-flying hosts Louth soon levelled, though – and when Canham took a yellow card on the chin to allow Cliff to continue in goal, they fell behind to a penalty flick.
That soon became 3-1, before Adam Sisson netted a late second for Sutton.
In Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd cruised to a fine 3-0 win over rivals Wisbech 3rd.
James Doolan slotted home from close range, before Keith Stennett settled any nerves with a neat second.
Another Stennett strike then completed the scoring and secured the points for Spalding, who lie in third place in the table.
Down in Division 5NW, Spalding 4th were handed a 10-2 tanning by unbeaten leaders Leadenham. Goals from Dominic Ibrahim and Tom Shinkins were all they had to shout about against a very strong side.
Long Sutton 3rd were also ruthlessly dispatched by second-placed Cambs City 5th to the tune of 8-0.
Stepping up from the fourth side, Joss Calderbank earned the man-of-the-match award for a Sutton side that refused to give up all game.
There was something of a rarity in Division 6NW (N) as Spalding 5th drew 0-0 with Grantham. Chris Grooby played a blinder and was Spalding’s star man.
The other South Holland side in 6NW (N), Long Sutton 4th, picked up only their second victory of the campaign as they smashed basement boys Bourne/Deeping 6th 5-2.
Having fallen behind, Sutton went in level at half time when Jon Goodley pounced on a rebound.
A devastating defeat looked on the cards early in the second period when hosts Bourne/Deeping went back ahead, but two cool strikes from James Baker fired the away side ahead for the first time.
Man-of-the-match Will White added a super solo goal to put Sutton further ahead, leaving the last word to Kane Portass, who celebrated his first goal of the season.
p Spalding under-16s lost a thrilling contest against COP under-16s 7-4 in the England Hockey Boys under-16 League. Joe Rogers (3) and Joe Higgins got the goals.
Saturday’s fixtures
East Men’s League: Premier B – Norwich City v Long Sutton (1pm).
Division One – Bishops Stortford v Spalding (1.30pm).
Division 3NW – Spalding 2nd v Louth (12.30pm); Long Sutton 2nd v Cambridge South (2.30pm).
Division 4NW – Alford & District v Spalding 3rd (2pm).
Division 5NW – Spalding 4th v Wisbech Town 4th (2pm); Long Sutton 3rd v Alford & District 2nd (4pm).
Division 6NW (N) – City of Peterborough 9th v Spalding 5th (10am); Long Sutton 4th v Leadenham 2nd (11.30am).
