Spalding Hockey Club’s top men’s team clinched a first-ever promotion to East Men’s League Premier B Division with a 4-2 victory at Bishop Stortford 1st on Saturday.
Needing just one point to secure a top-two finish in Division One, Spalding started superbly and raced into a 2-0 lead after 20 minutes thanks to a pair of identical Russ Watts goals, both assisted by Stuart Cunnington.
Hosts Stortford pulled one back early in the second period, but goalscorer extraordinaire Cunnington restored the two-goal cushion with a drag flick short corner.
The home side hit back again for 3-2, but Cunnington struck home a tremendous reverse stick strike five minutes from time to guarantee back-to-back promotions.
WIth two games left, Spalding are one point ahead of also-promoted Ipswich-ES as they bid to add the title to their promotion party.
Long Sutton 1st, meanwhile, took a massive step towards keeping themselves in Premier B next season with a 4-2 win over Norwich City 1st.
Two Danny Sisson strikes at the Peele Leisure Centre had them level at 2-2 at half time. After the break, Fyson’s drag flick was stopped on the line by a foot – and he sublimely slotted home the resultant penalty flick.
Player-of-the-match Will Cook then rounded off the scoring to give his side a vital victory, but Sutton remain in the bottom two.
Spalding 2nd, meanwhile, picked up a huge win in their bid to avoid the drop in Division 3NW as they won 3-2 at old foes Louth, who were promoted with them last season.
Despite falling behind early on, two sublime individual goals from Joe Higgins fired Spalding into a 2-1 lead.
Although Louth hit back to level, Chris McKenna laid on a hat-trick strike for Higgins to give Spalding’s season a real shot in the arm.
Also picking up a huge win in Division 3NW were Long Sutton 2nd, who also did their hopes of survival the power of good with one of their best results of the campaign.
They won 4-3 at a Cambs South side that hadn’t previously been beaten at home all season. They had to come from behind three times thanks to goals from Stef Fox and Ben Shore (2).
Alex Canham then thundered home a late penalty flick to secure an invaluable victory. Just three points separate the bottom five in 3NW, with Sutton having at least one game in hand on all of their rivals.
Down in Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd’s promotion hopes were dented by a 2-1 loss against basement boys Alford, who have now completed a double over them. Darren Grooby had put them ahead early on.
Elsewhere, Spalding 4th were handed a 5-0 drubbing at lowly Wisbech 4th in Division 5NW, while Long Sutton 3rd romped to an 8-0 win over rock-bottom Alford 2nd.
Jack Smith led the way with a wonderful six-goal haul, while Calvin Bishop and Harry Thorpe also notched.
In Division 6NW (N), Long Sutton 4th and Spalding 5th battled out a cracking 4-4 draw at the Peele. Gary Hales (2), John Sullivan and Ian White notched for Sutton, with Tom Mayhew (2), Max Bodimead and skipper Adrian Bettinson to Spalding scorers.
- It was derby day In East Women’s League Division 2NW – and Long Sutton ladies’ 1st dealt a damaging blow to the title hopes of already promoted Spalding Poachers 1st with a 2-1 triumph.
Goals from player-of-the-match Emma Howell and Leanne Woodhead fired Sutton ahead in clash between two of the league’s top three.
Kelly Tuplin smacked home a short corner for Spalding’s 100th goal of the season late on, but they couldn’t level and slip to second.
The title is still in their hands, with City of Peterborough just a point ahead having played a game more.
In Division 3NW (N), Spalding Poachers 2nd are now seven points clear in second after beating Spalding Poachers 3rd 3-2.
Isy Whitehead had put the 2nd side ahead, but Sam Foston and Rachel Perkins hit back to put the 3rds 2-1 up. Whitehead levelled, before a scrambled winner late on.
Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd, meanwhile, beat Alford ladies’ 2nd 3-2. Jayme Hunt, Katie Bedford and Amber Jones grabbed the goals.
