The first East Men’s Hockey League derby between Long Sutton and Spalding’s top teams went the way of the latter on Saturday after an entertaining Premier B battle.
In-form Spalding emerged as 4-2 winners against their struggling hosts at The Peele Leisure Centre, as they made it six wins from seven matches to stay second in the standings.
Having already won a cup clash earlier this season, Spalding went into the game as clear favourites.
They soon emphasised that and went ahead through Josh Rowbottom, who volleyed home a rebound after Stuart Cunnington’s initial flick was saved.
Only a super save from Sutton’s Albert Slator kept the score 1-0 at the break.
However, the lead was doubled early in the second half when Cunnington and Henry Temple-Baxter worked a short corner to Rowbottom – who couldn’t miss.
It was soon 3-0, with Rowbottom turning provider by slipping the ball to Mike Morris. He finished impressively from a tight angle.
Undeterred, Sutton pulled a goal back through a Josh Fyson short corner – and had chances to make it 3-2.
But Spalding restored their three-goal advantage when Dan Needham buried an impressive drag flick.
An equally awesome Fyson drag flick made it 4-2, before Gary Hales saw a late goal harshly ruled out.
The loss leaves Sutton bottom of the table on just one point, but they had plenty of reasons to be encouraged.
Elsewhere, table-toppers Spalding 3rd made it six wins from seven in Division 4NW as they best hosts Bourne/Deeping 3rd 4-1.
Skipper Steve Rogers led the way with a fine finish and further strikes from Chris McKenna (2) and Ryan Davy saw Spalding home.
In the same division, Spalding 2nd jumped up to third place with an emphatic 9-0 home success over Ely 2nd.
Amazingly there were nine different scorers in the one-sided game at Glen Park, with Daniel Adams, Darren Grooby, Glenn Perkins, Sam Sly, Keith Stennett, Matthew Day, James Stone, David Dorey-Rodriguez and Glenn Richardson all notching.
Down in Division 5NW, Long Sutton 3rd were handed a 7-0 stuffing by leaders St Neots 2nd.
St Neots played extremely positive and free-flowing hockey right from the off, but Sutton put in a spirited show.
Kieron Smith put in a man-of-the-match showing for them amid difficult circumstances.
Spalding 4th are now just a point behind Sutton after they dispatched Wisbech 4th 7-0 in their stand-out performance of the season so far.
Darren Willson returned for the first time this season and marked his appearance with a calmly-constructed hat-trick. Andy Barlow, Alan Cerevicius, Max Bodimead and Willem Borst were also on the scoresheet as Spalding put basement team Wisbech to the sword.
Meanwhile, youthful Long Sutton 4th slipped to a 10-3 defeat against Division 6NW (N) leaders Horncastle 2nd.
Sutton’s development side introduced yet another 13-year-old to adult hockey in this one, with Josh Baker starting.
Impressively, he put in a man-of-the-match performance and scored two of the three goals. Ian White notched the other one.
Sutton stay third, with Spalding 5th now four points behind them in fourth after they also lost. Louth were their conquerors in a 2-1 scoreline.
Following last week’s excellent win over Sutton, Spalding went to Louth full of confidence. However, they met an experienced and well-organised home team that belied their lowly position in the league.
Jack Martin fired home for Spalding, but the visitors bounced back with a brace to clinch the three points.
Spalding Poachers 2nd grabbed the club bragging rights in East Women’s Hockey League on Saturday as they thrashed friendly foes Spalding Poachers 3rd 6-0 at Glen Park.
The Division 3NW derby was a difficult day for both sides, but they went into it wanting the points.
It was the 2nd side who dominated from the off, with 3rd team keeper Christina Dewing forced to make some fantastic saves.
However, a trademark Eva Keyes short corner scud found the back of the net to finally beat Dewing and put Spalding 2nd 1-0 up at the interval.
The goals then started to flow in the second period, with Alanna “AJ” Bunyan lashing number two into the roof of the net.
Sam Foston, Karen Thorold (2) and Annie Price also got in on the act before the final whistle to round off the 6-0 win.
It was a good weekend for Spalding Poachers 2nd, who then beat Lincoln Lindum ladies’ 2nd 2-0 in the second round of the England Hockey 2nd Team Cup on Sunday.
Player-of-the-match Charlotte Maplethorpe’s deflected drive put them 1-0 up at the break, before Bunyan bagged the clincher.
A tasty home draw against Beeston 2nd awaits in the next round (November 29).
Elsewhere, Spalding Poachers 1st are still looking for their first Division 1N win of the campaign after going down 4-1 against leaders Saffron Walden ladies’ 1st.
After falling behind, Ellie Pybus did level for a Spalding side that played with plenty of confidence.
However, three clinical goals after the break gave the table-toppers the win.
