Spalding 1st picked up four points from their opening two games of the East Men’s Hockey League Premier B season over the weekend.
An impressive 3-1 victory at Wapping 3rd on Saturday was followed by a 0-0 draw on the road at St Albans 2nd some 24 hours later.
At Wapping, a youthful Spalding started on the front foot and took a deserved lead through Will Baker’s back-post finish.
They continued to dominate after the break and talisman Stuart Cunnington netted two penalty corners to go 3-0 to the good before the hosts grabbed a consolation.
Sunday’s game was much closer, but Spalding were denied a winner at the death when the referee didn’t allow an advantage in the D.
Spalding 2nd, meanwhile, began their Division 3NW season with an impressive 5-1 win over Cambridge South 2nd at Glen Park.
First-half goals from James Grant and man-of-the-match Joe Higgins (2) gave Spalding a 3-0 lead at the break.
Second-half efforts from Steve Rogers and Tim Maltby – after a short corner response from the visitors – rounded off the rout.
In Division 3NW, the all-club affair between Long Sutton 1st and 2nd ended up being very one-sided, as the first team cruised to a 5-0 success.
Meanwhile, a goal from Peter Wright earned Spalding 3rd a 1-1 draw at Cambridge City 6th as they started their Division 5NW season with a draw.
It was also 1-1 in Division 6NW (N) as Spalding 5th picked up a point in their opening fixture against Leadenham 3rd at Glen Park.
After falling behind, Sebastian Lewis had a goal ruled out before the break, but Cameron Roy eventually hauled Spalding level with a composed finish in the second half.
In the same division, Long Sutton 3rd also picked up a point on day one as they battled out a goalless draw at Wapping 3rd.
- Spalding Poachers 1st suffered late heartbreak in their East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW opener against Saffron Walden 1st on Saturday.
After a strong showing early in the first half, Spalding finally got the opening goal they deserved when Angelina Harkus steered the ball home for a 1-0 half-time lead.
However, a short-corner goal levelled things up for the visitors at Glen Park – before they added a second with less than 30 seconds to go to secure a 2-1 win.
In the same division, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st suffered a 2-0 reverse against Bourne Deeping 1st at the Peele Leisure Centre. Maisie Sullivan’s performance in defence was the Sutton highlight, as she claimed the player-of-the-match prize.
In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd were held to a 1-1 draw by Ely City 1st at Glen Park. Kate Tilbrook was the Spalding scorer.
Down in Division 4NW (N), Tabitha Dunnett toasted an impressive hat-trick as Spalding Poachers 3rd picked up a 4-1 victory over hosts Leadenham 1st.
Elaine Allen was the other scorer for Spalding.
FIXTURES
EAST MEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (Saturday)
Premier B – Spalding 1st v Potters Bar 1st (2pm).
Division 3NW – St Neots 1st v Long Sutton 1st (12.45pm); Louth 1st v Spalding 2nd (1pm).
Division 5NW – Spalding 3rd v Kettering 3rd (3.30pm).
Division 6NW (N) – City of Peterborough 8th v Long Sutton 3rd (11am); Spalding 4th v Louth 2nd (12.30pm).
EAST WOMEN’S HOCKEY LEAGUE (Saturday)
Division 2NW – Long Sutton 1st v Dereham 2nd (11am); Alford 1st v Spalding 1st.
Division 3NW – Cambridge South 2nd v Spalding 2nd (1.30pm).
Division 4NW (N) – City of Peterborough 4th v Long Sutton 2nd (10am); Spalding 3rd v Alford 2nd (11am).
