A first-half strike from Jacob Baker fired Spalding 1st to a 1-0 win at Wisbech Town 1st on Saturday – and clinched his side the East Men’s Hockey League Division One North title with a game to spare.
With second-placed Harleston Magpies 2nd surprisingly thrashed 5-0 at UEA, Baker’s sixth-minute strike moved the mighty maroons an unassailable five points clear at the top with just a game left to play.
The only goal came following a neat move from the away side, before Baker blasted the ball home.
Indeed, Spalding were always in command – despite a second-half mix-up that saw one of their players pick up two quick cards – only for the referee to attempt to remove a different player from the pitch.
That did allow Wisbech a few sniffs of goal, but keeper Nathan Davy denied them at every opportunity as Spalding saw out the win and clinched the crown.
Down in Division Two North West, Long Sutton 1st’s upturn in form continued with a 6-2 victory over hosts St Neots 1st making it four wins on the bounce.
Josh Baker netted twice, Olly Taylor grabbed his first for the team and Nick Ellis’ effort from a rebounded short corner put the greens 4-0 to the good at the break.
After the interval the hosts pulled one back, but Baker soon completed his hat-trick from a penalty flick before laying on number six for Dominic Ibrahim.
The hosts pulled one back with a flick of their own before Baker’s afternoon ended abruptly when he was knocked out by a feisty double challenge.
In the same division, Spalding 2nd suffered a 9-1 defeat at home to St Ives 1st, with Steve Rogers their scorer.
In Division Four North West, champions Long Sutton 2nd were held to a 1-1 draw at Wisbech Town 3rd.
Tyler Hagan gave them a half-time lead, but a second-half strike gave the hosts a share of the spoils.
In the same division, Spalding 4th suffered a 1-0 defeat at Cambridge South 5th.
Down in Division Five North West, Long Sutton 3rd enjoyed a 2-0 home win over Cambridge South 6th.
Gary Hales and Ian White grabbed the goals for the mid-table greens.
The final game of the weekend saw Spalding 5th Division Six North West champions Spalding 5th defeat basement side St Ives 5th 2-0.
Cameron Roy and Charlie Smith got the goals in either half.
Saturday fixtures: Spalding 1st v UEA 1st (2pm); Cambs City 4th v Spalding 2nd (4pm); Long Sutton 1st v COP 4th (2.30pm); Long Sutton 2nd v Cambs South 5th (1pm); Spalding 4th v March Town 2nd (12.30pm).
