Spalding 1st stormed up to third in the East Men’s Hockey League Premier B table after walloping hosts Shefford and Sandy 1st 7-1 on Saturday.
It was the home side who opened the scoring, but Spalding kept their heads and two Stuart Cunnington short corners put them ahead and Glenn Richardson’s fine finish made it 3-1.
Cunnington deflected home his third to make it 4-1 at the break, before James Mayhew (2) and another Cunnington effort rounded off the rout and made it three wins from four for Spalding.
In contrast, Long Sutton 1st are still seeking a first league win of the season after losing 6-2 at home to Pelicans 1st. Josh Baker and Alex Canham got their goals at the Peele Leisure Centre.
It was a dark day for the two South Holland teams in Division 3NW with Spalding 2nd drubbed 5-1 at home by Cambridge Uni 3rd (Frazer Watt scored) and Long Sutton 2nd were thrashed 7-1 at Cambridge South 2nd (Luke Jackson scored their consolation).
Also beaten were Spalding 3rd in Division 4NW. They went down 4-1 at Wellingborough despite a George Swindells strike.
However, Spalding 4th were in red-hot form in Division 5NW as they hammered St Neots 8-1 at Glen Park. Matthew Hicks (4), Peter Wright (3) and Daniel Plant got in on the act to make it two wins from two.
- Spalding Poachers 1st continued their flawless start to the new East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW season by beating hosts Cambridge Nomads 1st 4-3 in a cracker.
Charlotte Maplethorpe fired Spalding into an early lead before turning provider for Calypso Priestley to double the lead.
The impressive Hennie Boekestyn then made it 3-0 on her first team debut with an accurate finish. However, the hosts netted twice just before the break to give the Poachers food for thought.
A spree of super saves from Donna Chester-O’Neill kept Spalding ahead before skipper Karen Timby tapped home their fourth after Boekestyn’s strike was saved. The home side pulled one more back, but Spalding held on to make it three wins on the spin.
In the same division, Long Sutton 1st were handed a 4-0 reverse by table-toppers Cambridge South 1st.
Spalding and Sutton clash this Saturday at Glen Park (12.30pm).
Elsewhere, Spalding 2nd went top of Division 3NW with a 7-0 victory over Cambridge City 5th as AJ Bunyan (3), Grace Hodgett (2), Sophie Smith and Kate Tilbrook all scored.
In Division 4NW (N), Spalding 3rd were 6-0 winners at Spilsby 1st with Kate Amess, Charlotte Morris, Terri Bateman (2), Pippa Bembridge, Maisie Foden all scoring.
Sutton 2nd drew 0-0 with Alford 2nd on home territory.
