Captain Stuart Cunnington helped himself to a hat-trick in Spalding 1st’s super 6-1 victory over West Herts 2nd in East Men’s Hockey League Premier B on Saturday.
Bidding to bounce back after losing their last game, Spalding played dominant hockey throughout and raced to a 2-0 lead after 15 minutes thanks to a brace from Cunnington.
Hungry to finish the day with a win, Spalding started the second half strongly and further increased their lead with a strike from Rob Dalton.
Cunnington then added his third, while Steve Rogers and Harry Vickers also got their names on the scoresheet as the ageing West Herts team struggled to cope with the barrage of chances from the home team.
A late consolation didn’t alter the mood at Glen Park, as Spalding moved up to third in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to CoP 2nd on Saturday (10am).
It wasn’t such a good day at the office for Long Sutton 1st in Division 2N, as they crashed 7-1 at Kettering.
Man-of-the-match Sam Markille got Sutton’s consolation, but they’re still without a win this season.
Down in Division 4NW, Long Sutton 2nd’s excellent start to the season continued as they walloped Cambs South 3rd 8-0 at the Peele Leisure Centre to make it four wins from four. Josh Fyson (4), Tyler Hagan (2), Luke Proctor and man-of-the-match Harry Braginton got the goals that sent Sutton top.
Two points behind them are Spalding 3rd, who picked up a superb 6-1 home victory over CoP 3rd.
Ben Scholes and Frazer Watt were among the scorers with two goals each.
It was also a good day for Spalding 2nd, who romped to a 7-0 success at Wisbech 3rd.
It’s the second week on the spin that the side have scored seven, with three of those coming in the first half.
Glenn Richardson opened the scoring with a reverse stick effort that flew into the corner, before Max Bland diverted the second home and an unmarked Ryan Mountney flicked a third.
Dan Azzorpardi skilfully volleyed a high ball home from close range to make it 4-0, then Richard McKenna tapped home the fifth at the back post. Will Baker’s short corner strike somehow found the next to make it 6-0, before Wright rounded off the rout with a scrambled effort.
Meanwhile, Spalding 4th were handed a 10-1 thumping at Wellingborough 1st as they fell into the bottom three in Division 5NW.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Spalding 5th were 2-1 winners at Leadenham 3rd thanks to a brace of goals from Aaron Scholes.
In the same division, Long Sutton 3rd collected a 2-2 draw against CoP 8th as McKenzie East and Steven Smith netted.
- Spalding Poachers 1st finally registered their first win of the East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW with a 3-0 victory over Bourne Deeping 1st on Saturday.
Kelly Slater neatly finished a short corner to give them an early lead, before Claire Hindmarsh’s penalty corner doubled the lead.
A far-post finish from birthday girl Ellie Pybus rounded off the rout late on.
In the same division, Long Sutton 1st slipped to a 4-1 home defeat against CoP 2nd at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Maisie Sullivan, who was also named player of the match, got the sole reply.
In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd were held to a 0-0 draw at CoP 3rd to stay in mid-table.
Meanwhile, Spalding Poachers 3rd beat Bourne Deeping 3rd 3-1 in Division 4NW (N). Katie Beeson, Alison Harrison-Wild and Terri Bateman got the goals.
Sutton 2nd were 2-0 winners over Louth in the same league, with Georgina Synnott and Hannah Baker notching.
