Spalding 1st were on the losing side of a 13-goal thriller on Saturday as Sudbury 1st defeated them 8-5 in East Men’s Hockey League Premier B.
An end-to-end game with plenty of goals, the score was evenly balanced at 3-3 when it came to half-time at Glen Park.
Ill-discipline then saw Spalding reduced to ten players for five minutes – and they conceded two quick goals to give the visitors an advantage they never relinquished.
Stu Cunnington (2), Joe Higgins (2) and Glenn Richardson got the goals for Spalding, who amazingly lost the reverse fixture 10-5 – meaning the two teams have served up 28 goals in just two clashes this season.
In Division 2N, Long Sutton 1st stay bottom after being handed a 6-1 home reverse against Norwich City 2nd.
A goal from Josh Baker couldn’t stop them edging closer to the relegation trapdoor.
Down in Division 3NW, Spalding 2nd romped to a 7-1 victory at Bourne Deeping 2nd. Tim Maltby helped himself to a hat-trick in the derby demolition, while Harry Vickers, Robin Edlington, Tom Bettinson, Lawrence Smith-Hughes all got in on the act.
Divisional rivals Long Sutton 2nd were also on fine form as they won 6-0 at Ely City 3rd. Josh Fyson starred with a treble, while Luke Proctor, Luke Jackson and Frazer Watt also netted.
Elsewhere, Spalding 3rd were 4-1 winners over Bourne Deeping 3rd in the big basement battle in Division 4NW.
Jacob Drew, Darren Grooby, Glenn Perkins, Dan Azzopardi got their goals.
In Division 5NW, Spalding 4th suffered a 6-0 beating at Kettering 3rd.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Spalding 5th got back to winning ways with an impressive 4-0 derby win over Bourne Deeping 6th as Cameron Roy (2), Daniel Plant and Darren Willson all found the net.
But Long Sutton 3rd were handed a hefty 8-0 home reverse by Horncastle 2nd.
- Spalding Poachers 1st were edged out 3-2 by East Women’s League Division 2NW leaders Cambridge South in a close contest at Glen Park on Saturday.
After falling 2-0 down to the runaway table-toppers, player-of-the match Evie Maltby gave Spalding hope when she netted a short corner before the break.
Great build-up play from Georgina and Charlotte Maplethorpe then teed up Maltby to level the scores early in the second period.
But South duly pinched a winner despite a number of top saves from Christina Dewing.
Long Sutton 1st took advantage of that score to leapfrog Spalding in the table as they won 3-1 at Saffron Walden 1st.
Player-of-the-match Connie Gittins capped a top performance with a goal double, while Amber Jones also notched.
Sutton are now fourth, one place above Poachers.
In Division 3NW, Spalding 2nd slipped up 2-1 at Alford 1st despite a Zoe Moore strike.
There was better news for Spalding Poachers 3rd as they won 3-0 over rivals Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd in the Division 4NW (N) derby.
Charlotte Morris, Tabitha Dunnett and Terri Bateman netted at Glen Park.
Saturday fixtures
East Men’s League: Premier B – Upminster 1st v Spalding 1st (1pm). Division 2N – Horncastle 1st v Sutton 1st (1.30pm). Division 3NW – Spalding 2nd v Cambs City Vets (2pm); Sutton 2nd v Bourne Deeping 2nd (2.30pm). Division 4NW – Cambs City 5th v Spalding 3rd (12.30pm). Division 5NW – Spalding 4th v Cambs City 6th (3.30pm). Divsiion 6NW (N) – Leadenham 2nd v Spalding 5th (1.30pm); Sutton 3rd v Alford 2nd (4pm).
East Women’s League: Division 2NW – Spalding 1st v Saffron Walden 1st (12.30pm); Sutton 1st v St Ives 2nd (1pm). Division 4NW (N) – Spalding 3rd v Horncastle 2nd (11am); Sutton 2nd v CoP 4th (11.30am).
