Spalding 1st returned to winning ways in East Men’s Hockey League Premier B with a thumping 5-2 victory over Upminster 1st on Saturday.
Doubles from Stuart Cunnington (2) and Glenn Richardson (2), plus a James Mayhew strike, secured an emphatic win at Glen Park and moved Spalding into fourth place.
Richardson’s strike gave them a 1-0 half-time lead, but Upminster hit back to net twice after the break and go 2-1 up. Cunnington levelled from a penalty corner, which reinvigorated Spalding and they added three more goals to give the scoreline a more comfortable feel.
They visit Waltham Forest 1st on Saturday (2.30pm).
In Division 2N, Long Sutton are still seeking their first win after a narrow 4-3 defeat at Norwich City 2nd.
Josh Baker was on sensational form with a hat-trick for Sutton, but they couldn’t find what would have been a deserved leveller.
Sutton will try again on Saturday, when they host Horncastle 1st (1pm).
Down in Division 3NW, Spalding 2nd moved up to fifth in the table with a dominant 3-1 win over rivals Bourne Deeping 2nd.
Ryan Mountney (2) and Joe Maltby netted in the Glen Park triumph.
Long Sutton 2nd were 3-2 victors against visitors Ely City 3rd in the same division as Josh Fyson (2) and Luke Jackson both found the net.
Spalding 2nd visit Cambridge City Vets on Saturday (11am), while Sutton 2nd make the trip to Bourne Deeping 2nd (12.30pm).
Also on winning form were Spalding 3rd, who secured a 4-0 success at Bourne Deeping 3rd. A hat-trick from Sullivan Smith and Dan Azzopardi’s strike clinched the derby win for Spalding, who are now fifth.
Spalding 3rd are at home to Cambs City 5th this Saturday (11am).
Down in Division 5NW, table-topping Spalding 4th continued their fine form with a 3-1 home success over Kettering 3rd.
Their fourth win from five games was secured by goals from Dave Burrell, Daniel Plant and Glenn Perkins.
Spalding 4th are at Cambs City 6th this Saturday (11.30am).
Elsewhere, Long Sutton 3rd are now 2nd in Divison 6NW (N) after a routine 4-0 win over Leadenham 3rd at the Peele Leisure Centre. Ian White helped himself to a hat-trick in that one, while Adam Pack rounded off the rout.
Spalding 5th are level on points with Sutton in fourth following their fine 2-0 victory at Alford 2nd.
Matthew McManamon-Cookson helped himself to both goals in that one.
This Saturday sees Long Sutton 3rd visit COP 8th (10am), while Spalding 5th are at Horncastle 2nd (2pm).
- Both South Holland sides slipped to defeats in Division 2NW of the East Women’s Hockey League on Saturday.
The game of the day was the top-of-the-table clash between leaders Cambs South 1st and Spalding Poachers 1st.
It remained goalless for the majority of the clash, with Spalding keeper Donna Chester-O’Neill pulling off a number of sensational stops.
But she was finally between by a penalty stroke ten minutes from time as Poachers lost 1-0 and slipped to fifth in the table.
They have another big game at second-placed Saffron Walden 1st on Saturday (2pm).
Long Sutton ladies’ 1st, meanwhile, were beaten 2-0 at home by Saffron Walden 1st. Both goals came within five minutes of each other in the first half of a game that saw Jo Bland named player-of-the-match. Sutton travel to lowly St Ives 2nd on Saturday (2pm).
In Division 3W, Spalding Poachers 2nd suffered their first league loss of the season as Alford 1st handed them a 3-2 reverse.
Goals from Eva Keyes and AJ Bunyan, plus a star showing from keeper Abby Hodgett, ensured that the Spalding women could be proud despite the defeat.
There was a derby in Division 4NW (N) as high-flying Spalding Poachers 3rd visited struggling Long Sutton 2nd. The clash went with form, as another fine team showing from Spalding earned them a 5-0 victory.
Alison Wilson, Terri Bateman, Amy Naylor, Sam Foston and Kate Amess all netted one goal apiece in the derby demolition.
