Spalding 1st bounced back from a Saturday drubbing to record an impressive 5-1 win over Broxbourne 1st in East Men’s Hockey League on Sunday.
The mighty maroons suffered a 7-1 humbling at Havering 1st in the first Premier B game of their double-header, with James Mayhew’s goal their only consolation.
Sunday’s Glen Park clash with Broxbourne went a lot better and goals from Stuart Cunnington, Joe Higgins, Glenn Richardson, Tom Amess and Mayhew gave them their second win of the season and moved them into sixth place in the table.
In Division 3NW, Long Sutton 1st battled back to snatch a 3-3 draw with St Ives 1st at the Peele Leisure Centre.
In a battle of two sides that were relegated together last season, St Ives went 1-0 up at the break before Josh Baker levelled with a thunderous reverse stick shot.
The visitors responded with two quick goals to move 3-1 up, but Sutton refused to lay down and accept defeat.
Josh Fyson pulled one back with eight minutes left when he received Nick Ellis’ pass and fired through the keeper’s legs.
That man Fyson then snatched a point for his side with seconds left, thrashing home a penalty corner to make it 3-3 and keep Sutton top of the table.
It was also 3-3 in Spalding 2nd’s clash with Kettering 2nd in the same division.
Unbeaten Spalding had led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals by Russ Watts and William Steed, but Kettering pulled one back with an unstoppable strike.
Pete Wright restored the two-goal cushion, only for two late goals – including one in the last minute – to deny them all three points.
They are second, though, level on points with Sutton.
At the other end of the table, Long Sutton 2nd are second-from-bottom after going down 2-1 at St Neots 1st. A goal from Alex Canham was all Sutton had to shout about on the day.
In Division 5NW, Spalding 3rd sit second after a 4-2 win at Bourne Deeping 3rd.
Goals from Harry Blackman, David Burrell, Jacob Drew and Darren Grooby keep them unbeaten and two points behind leaders Horncastle 2nd.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Long Sutton 3rd are second after seeing off rivals Wisbech Town 4th at home.
Gary Hales hit a hat-trick to settle the derby in Sutton’s favour.
Spalding 5th are third after an impressive 5-0 home success over City of Peterborough 7th. Cameron Roy was the headline act as he netted a hat-trick, while Adolfo Chantre and Steven Thurlbourne got the other goals.
Spalding 4th were unfortunate to lose 4-2 at Alford 2nd and sit bottom of the early standings.
p Spalding Poachers 1st are bottom of East Women’s League Division 2NW after suffering a third loss on the spin on Saturday.
Player-of-the-match Mia Dewing scored for Poachers, but they lost 2-1 at home to Dereham 2nd at Glen Park.
There wasn’t much for Long Sutton ladies’ 1st to shout about in the same division, as they went down 3-0 at Pelicans 1st.
Emmie Gittins was player of the match in that one, as Sutton fell to seventh in the table.
In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd registered their first win of the season.
They defeated Newmarket 1st 3-2 at Glen Park, with Karen Timby, Zoe Moore and Roz Dennis all finding the net.
Down in 4NW (N), Spalding Poachers 3rd drew 0-0 at Long Sutton 2nd.
Saturday fixtures
East Men’s League: Premier B – Spalding 1st v Waltham Forest 1st (2pm). Division 3NW – Cambs South 2nd v Sutton 1st (1.30pm); Sutton 2nd v St Ives 2nd (2.30pm); March 1st v Spalding 2nd (5pm). Division 5NW – Spalding 3rd v COP 6th (12.30pm). Division 6NW (N) – Spalding 4th v Sutton 3rd (3.30pm); Bourne Deeping 5th v Spalding 5th (3.30pm).
East Women’s League: Division 2NW – Sutton 1st v Spalding 1st (11am). Division 3NW – Cambs City 5th v Spalding 2nd (4pm). Division 4NW (N) – Spalding 3rd v COP 4th (11am); Bourne Deeping 3rd v Sutton 2nd (11am).
