Jo Bland’s sublime second-half winner gave Long Sutton ladies a 2-1 derby win over Spalding Poachers on Saturday – and saw them leapfrog their rivals at the top of East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW.
In a game that saw great hockey served up by both sides and that was played at an incredible pace, the Poachers began much the brighter but found keeper Lorraine Wallis in fine form.
Sutton duly hit them on the break and took the lead when Jess Hudson and Lyn Tancred combined well to set up Leanne Woodhead, who scored from the tightest of angles after drawing the keeper.
Spalding, however, won two back-to-back short corners and levelled when Georgina Maplethorpe found the net from one of them on 26 minutes.
The clinching goal arrived 18 minutes into the second period, with Bland neatly lifting her shot over the advancing keeper following smart work from Lisa Baker and Leah Goodley.
Poachers piled on the pressure late on, but the closest they came was when Tania White was forced to clear off the line.
The win leaves Sutton one point clear of their rivals at the top of the table.
In Division 2NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd were handed a 4-1 reverse at Pelicans 1st.
Player-of-the-match April Gay got the only goal for Spalding to make it interesting at 3-1, but they couldn’t mount a comeback.
Down in Division 4NW (N), Spalding 3rd remain top after beating a strong Skegness side 3-0. An early goal by Grace Hodgett gave them the best possible start, before Lisa Ceasar made it 2-0.
The scoring was completed when Hodgett skilfully ran through the opposition to grab her second.
In the same division, Long Sutton 2nd went down 5-1 at home to Leadenham.
- Spalding 1st remain top of the East Men’s Hockey League Premier B table after passing a tricky test at Waltham Forest to win 3-2.
Two accidents and one player sleeping in meant Spalding began the game with just eight players – and they had to defend for their lives early on.
They fell behind to a short corner, but Stuart Cunnington soon leveller before his side were restored to their full compliment.
Harry Vickers soon put them 2-1 up with a thunderous effort, but Forest equalised in the second period.
Spalding went all out attack in the dying moments and were rewarded when youngster Tom Everton grabbed a late winner.
In Division One, Long Sutton roared to a 7-1 success over high-flying Bishops Stortford to climb above them into fourth place.
Will Cook shone with a four-goal haul, while Ben Shore (2) and Josh Fyson also got themselves on the scoresheet in a dominant team display.
Spalding 2nd impressed as they pushed leaders Horncastle all the way before going down 4-2.
Early strikes from Glenn Perkins and Tom Mayhew did have them 2-1 up at one point, but Horncastle hit back to take the spoils.
In the same division, Spalding 3rd were soundly beaten 3-0 by hosts Ely City, while Long Sutton 2nd beat Leadenham 5-4 in a thriller.
Josh Baker, who scored twice on the day, scored a last-gasp winner for Sutton with a sweeping finish on the reverse stick.
Nick Ellis (2) and Ed White also scored as Sutton registered their first win of the league campaign.
Down in Division 6NW (N), both Spalding 4th and Long Sutton 3rd kept their flawless starts to the season going.
Spalding smashed previously unbeaten Leadenham 2nd 7-2, with goals from Max Bland and Cameron Roy giving them a 2-1 half-time lead.
Roy added two more after the break to complete his treble, while Darren Wilson (2), Shaun Dewing, Bland and James Mayhew also notched.
Sutton 3rd also won well, as strikes from Dan Oldfield (2), Adam Sisson, Adam Pack and Will Taylor steered them to a 5-1 win at Bourne Deeping 6th.
Elsewhere, Spalding 5th crushed Alford 2nd 7-1 to earn their first win of the season.
Bailey Harker led the charge with a hat-trick, while Adrian Bettinson (2), Jacob Drew and Tim Amess also got in on the act.
However, Long Sutton 4th are still searching for their first win after a 4-2 loss against Bourne Deeping 5th.
James Collingwood and James Baker at least found the net for Sutton, who stay in the bottom two with one point from four games.
