Spalding Poachers 1st almost snatched defeat from the jaws of victory as they were forced to settle for a 3-3 draw at home draw with Pelicans 1st in East Women’s League Division 2NW on Saturday.
An Amy Wells hat-trick looked set to give the Poachers a 3-2 victory after they’d fought back from 2-1 down at Glen Park.
But King’s Lynn-based Pelicans bagged a late leveller before forcing a stellar save from Christina Dewing with the very last touch of the match.
Despite the home team’s early possession, it was a mix-up in defence that allowed Pelicans to take the lead as Spalding failed to clear their lines and were punished.
Fortunately, player-of-the-match Wells used her pace to good effect to equalise shortly afterwards.
Pelicans regained the lead at 2-1 and tried to take control of the match but were unable to prevent Wells from doubling her tally and equalising again.
Spurred on, Spalding pushed for a winner and – when Wells completed her hat-trick having rounded the keeper expertly – they thought they had taken all three points.
Pelicans fought to the end and snatched a draw with a neat finish – and only a smart far-post save from keeper Dewing ensured that the Poachers kept the point as Pelicans shot with the last touch of the game.
In the same Division, Long Sutton 1st suffered a 2-0 home defeat against Cambridge City 3rd and are now some nine points off second place in fifth.
Meanwhile, Long Sutton 2nd picked up a 2-1 victory over Alford 2nd in Division 4NW (N) on Sunday.
Despite being awarded several long corners in the early exchanges, Sutton could not capitalize on the opportunities and it was Alford who turned the tables to open the scoring.
They managed to win a short corner and, despite the efforts of Sutton’s defence, they were able to convert.
Despite being 1-0 down, Sutton kept their heads high and battled on. Emma Grosvenor worked consistently in the middle, linking successfully with Heather Ludlam on the left of the pitch.
Ludlam made some great runs to find Hannah Baker, who managed to win a short corner for Sutton. This was an opportunity Sutton capitalised on as Emile Raichelyte deflected into the right hand side of Alford’s goal to make it 1-1 at the break.
After the break, Sutton were reinvigorated. The speed of Ludlam and Baker broke through Alford’s defence and, as they scrambled for a goal, short corners were won but frustratingly, not converted.
As the clock ticked tension on both teams started to build and as Sutton lost Goodge to injury they were determined to find that elusive winning goal.
With the added support of Charlie Leuty and Lisa Baker on the pitch, Sutton never gave up and finally their efforts were rewarded.
Another team scramble in the D led to three more shots on target until eventually Lynne Braginton got a stick to the ball and saw it trickle under the keeper’s feet to clinch a deserved win.
