Spalding 1st are still seeking their first away win of the East Men’s Hockey League Premier B season after being held to a 1-1 draw at Ipswich East Suffolk 1st on Saturday.
The Spalding men made one of their strongest starts to a game this season, but found themselves 1-0 down at half-time following a counter attack from the hosts.
With a host of chances wasted after the interval, it looked like Spalding would suffer a rare defeat – but they were rescued by Stuart Cunnington’s late drag flick leveller.
The draw sees the mighty maroons fall to fourth in the table ahead of Saturday’s trip to fellow high-fliers Havering 1st.
In Division 2N, Long Sutton 1st are in the bottom three following a 3-2 reverse at Pelicans 1st.
Goals from Dan Batten and Luke Jackson gave Sutton hope of a point after battling back from 3-0 down, but it wasn’t to be.
Meanwhile, Spalding 2nd romped to a 9-2 home victory over Bourne Deeping 3rd at Glen Park.
Ryan Mountney was the star of the show with an impressive five-goal haul, while Michael Morris, Richard McKenna, Glenn Perkins and Glenn Richardson also got in on the act in the Division 4NW derby clash.
In the same division, Spalding 3rd enjoyed a 4-1 victory at Kettering 2nd.
Alex Cunnington (2), Ben Scholes and Frazer Watt got the goals at Bishops Stopford School.
Staying in 4NW, Long Sutton 2nd remain top after a 3-3 home draw against Alford 1st. Josh Fyson (2) and Tyler Hagon grabbed the goals that keep Sutton unbeaten and three clear.
Down in Division 5NW, Spalding 4th were handed a 3-0 home reverse by March Town 2nd and are now in the bottom three.
There was a South Holland derby in Division 6NW (N), as Spalding enjoyed a 2-1 home success over Long Sutton 3rd.
McKenzie East gave Sutton an early lead, but a sweet Jason Naylor strike levelled matters. Henry Thorogood then sealed the win for Spalding’s youngsters late on following a sweeping move.
- It was a day to forget for Spalding Poachers 1st in East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW on Saturday as St Ives 2nd handed them a hefty 5-0 reverse. On what was a very windy day, the hosts dominated for lengthy periods and left Spalding searching for positives.
It was a much better day for divisional rivals Long Sutton 1st, who beat Cambs City 4th 4-0 with goals from Connie Gittins (2), Amber Jones and Jemima Dodd.
In 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd were 4-0 victors over Royston 1st thanks to a four-goal haul from Eva Keyes.
Also on fine form down in Division 4NW (N) were Long Sutton 2nd, who thrashed hosts Bourne Deeping 3rd 5-0. Katie Collingwood-Smith and Hannah Baker both bagged twice, with Lisa Baker completing the scoring.
Spalding Poachers 3rd beat Woodhall Spa 1st 2-1 with Sharon Amess and Samantha Foston scoring.
Saturday fixtures: Men – Havering 1st v Spalding 1st (1pm); Long Sutton 1st v St Ives 1st (1pm); Spalding 2nd v Kettering 2nd (2pm); Alford 1st v Spalding 3rd (11am); Wisbech 3rd v Long Sutton 2nd (11am) Spalding 4th v Horncastle 2nd (3.30pm); CoP 8th v Spalding 5th (4pm); Bourne Deeping 6th v Long Sutton 3rd (9.30am). Women – Spalding 1st v CoP 2nd (12.30pm); St Ives 1st v Sutton 1st (12.30pm) Cambs Uni 3rd v Spalding 2nd (10.30am); Spalding 3rd v CoP 4th (11am); Sutton 2nd v Horncastle 2nd (2.30pm).
