Red-hot Spalding Poachers 1st took the South Holland bragging rights on Saturday as they defeated rivals Long Sutton 1st 3-1 to keep their flawless start to the East Women’s Hockey League Division Two North West season going.
It’s now six wins from as many games for the table-topping Poachers – who are sitting a healthy six points clear at the summit.
In contrast, the loss leaves Sutton’s ladies in the bottom three with just one victory and a solitary draw from their six outings so far.
It was Spalding who started the Glen Park derby much the better and their early pressure finally told when they won a short corner.
A brilliant one-two between Mia Dewing and Georgina Maplethorpe at the top of the D led to the first goal from, Dewing who slotted the ball past the Lorraine Wallis, who had made a number of stellar saves beforehand.
Buoyed by her opener, Dewing kept up the good work and soon laid on an assist when she played a great ball to Charlotte Maplethorpe, who deflected the ball past Wallis to make it 2-0 at the break.
The second half saw Emma Grosvenor inject some much-needed pace into the Sutton side as they looked to fight back.
Indeed, from a short corner they pulled a goal back when Amber Jones followed up after efforts from Imogen Cooper, Hannah Baker and Martha Hoyles.
That kept things interesting all the way up until the closing seconds, when Spalding added their third of the day.
Knowing it was the final attack of the game, Poachers flooded forward and Evie Maltby played a superb pass for Georgina Maplethorpe to touch home the clincher.
Elsewhere, Spalding Poachers 2nd battled out a thrilling 3-3 draw against fellow Division Three North West high-fliers Cambridge City 5th.
Forward Erin McMurray sped through to fire Spalding ahead in the first period, but the visitors added three unanswered strikes before the half-time break.
Much improved after the interval, Spalding won a few penalty corners finally netting from one, as Roz Dennis was able to slip the ball left to Zoe Moore, who slapped home into the corner of the goal.
With time running out, Spalding were awarded another short corner and Amy Naylor forced her way through the defenders to deflect home and seal a point.
In the same division, Spalding 3rd’s game at Newmarket 1st was postponed.
Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd, meanwhile, played out a friendly against neighbours Wisbech 3rd. A Wendy Canham strike couldn’t stop Sutton slipping to a 2-1 reverse at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Saturday fixtures: Cambs South 2nd v Spalding 1st (1.30pm); Long Sutton 1st v St Ives 2nd (2.30pm); Spalding 3rd v Cambs South 3rd (11am); Wisbech 2nd v Spalding 2nd (3.30pm); Pelicans 3rd v Long Sutton 2nd (11am).
