Long Sutton were edged out 9-7 at Cambridge City Vets in an absolute East Men’s Hockey League Division Two North classic on Saturday.
An incredible 12 goals were scored in the first half as the duo swapped ends at 6-6, with Sutton having been 6-3 ahead at one stage thanks to goals from Frazer Watt, Josh Fyson, Brad Sargeant, Gary Hales and Josh Baker (2).
However, Sutton’s defensive weaknesses showed after the break and they were caught out on three ocassions fromh swift counters. A Hales deflection would be the sole Sutton goal in the second half, as they suffered an eighth loss of the season.
In the same division, rock-bottom Spalding 2nd lost 2-1 at Cambs South 2nd with Darren Grooby on target.
Up in Division One North, Spalding 1st remain two points clear at the top following a 4-2 home success against Cambs South 1st.
They were 3-0 by half time with two well-placed drag flicks from Stu Cunnington and a well-worked team goal finished off by Jacob Baker.
The visitors pulled two back early in the second half at Glen Park, but Spalding remained firm and held off the determined away team in a relatively equal game before Cunnington rounded off his hat-trick from a penalty corner late on.
Both South Holland sides were on winning form in Division Four North West, too.
Table-topping Long Sutton 2nd made it 14 wins from 15 with a thumping 5-0 win at Kettering 3rd.
They spread the goals out between five different players, with Will White, Stefan Fox, Gary Hales, Ed White and Alex Canham all on the mark for the on-song Greens.
For Spalding 4th, a 4-2 home success over Wisbech Town 3rd marked the end of a four-game losing run.
Willem Borst scored twice in the first half to give Spalding a 2-1 half-time lead, before Graeme Matthews made it three.
Wisbech pulled one back, but Borst teed up Matthews to net the fourth and seal the win at Glen Park.
Elsewhere, in Division Five North West Long Sutton 3rd were edged out 3-2 by St Ives 4th at the Peele Leisure Centre. Two Tyler Hagan goals couldn’t prevent the defeat.
In Division Six North West, Spalding 5th were awarded a 5-0 walkover win by St Neots 4th.
Saturday fixtures: Sudbury 1st v Spalding 1st (1.45pm); Spalding 2nd v St Ives 2nd (12.30pm); Long Sutton 1st v Kettering 1st (2.30pm); Long Sutton 2nd v Spalding 4th (1pm); Kettering 4th v Long Sutton 3rd (1pm); Wisbech 4th v Spalding 5th (10.30am).
