It’s now three wins from three for Spalding 1st as they continued their perfect start to the new East Men’s Hockey League Division One North season on Saturday.
Early pace-setters Spalding saw off a very game Pelicans 1st 2-1 at Glen Park, with Stuart Cunnington and Jacob Baker on the mark.
In the pouring rain at Surfleet, Spalding went ahead with a short-corner routine calmly converted by Cunnington.
Pelicans levelled before the break, but the hosts clinched the win when Baker executed a perfect finish one-on-one with the keeper in the second half.
Meanwhile, Long Sutton 1st suffered a second defeat on the spin in Division Two North West.
They slipped up 3-2 at home to Cambridge City 4th, despite a double from the in-form Josh Baker.
In the same division, Spalding 2nd are still without a point following their 2-0 reverse at City Of Peterborough 3rd.
Harry Blackman’s tireless workrate in the centre of midfield was their highlighted and earned him man of the match.
In Division Four North West, Spalding 3rd enjoyed a 3-2 win over Ely City 2nd as Dave Burrell netted a dramatic late goal.
After falling behind, Tim Amess levelled for the mighty maroons before Harry Maplethorpe fed Harry Naylor to put them ahead for the first time.
Ely equalised, but Burrell buried the winner to secure Spalding the points.
Divisional rivals Long Sutton 2nd also enjoyed a win, as they crushed hosts St Neots 2nd 4-0. Star man Stefan Fox helped himself to a double, while Ed White and Alex Canham netted too.
In Division Five North West, a goal from Matt Bragington couldn’t stop Long Sutton 3rd from losing 4-1 against Bourne Deeping 5th.
- Charlotte Maplethorpe helped herself to a hat-trick as Spalding Poachers 1st kept their perfect start to the East Women’s League Division Two North West season going on Saturday.
Spalding thrashed hosts St Neots 2nd 8-0, with Maplethorpe (3), Hennie Boekestyn, Angelina Harkus, Ellie Holland, Harriet Mowbray and Amy Naylor all on target.
However, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st slipped up 1-0 at City of Peterborough 3rd in the same division.
Tania White’s player-of-the-match showing wasn’t quite enough for Sutton.
In Division Three North, goals from Karen Timby and Zoe Moore gave Spalding Poachers 2nd a 2-0 away win at Ely City 1st.
But there were 0-0 draws for both Spalding Poachers 3rd (v Bourne Deeping 2nd) and Long Sutton 2nd (v Cambs South 6th).
Fixtures (Sat): Men’s – Cambs South 1st v Spalding 1st (3pm); Long Sutton 1st v Cambs City over-45s (2.30pm); Spalding 2nd v Cambs South 2nd (12.30pm); Long Sutton 2nd v Kettering 3rd (1pm); Wisbech 3rd v Spalding 4th (noon); St Ives 4th v Long Sutton 3rd (3.30pm); St Neots 4th v Spalding 5th (11.30pm).
Women’s – Long Sutton 1st v Cambs Nomads 1st (11.30pm); Spalding 1st v COP 3rd (2pm); Ely City 1st v Spalding 3rd (11am); Spalding 2nd v Newmarket 1st (11am); Kettering 4th v Long Sutton 2nd (10am).
