It’s all to play for at the top of East Men’s Hockey League Division One North after leaders Spalding 1st lost a thriller 6-4 at second-placed Harleston Magpies 2nd on Saturday.
Spalding, who were looking to clinch the title with a win, made the perfect start and went 2-0 ahead through Tom Mayhew and Jake Baker.
The hosts forced Nathan Davy into a few big stops before netting twice to make it 2-2 at the break, though.
And, although Stu Cunnington converted a short corner to put the maroons 3-2 up, they soon found themselves 5-3 down.
Cunnington’s second of the match set up a grandstand finish, but Magpies added a sixth to hand Spalding only their second loss of the season. Their lead at the top is now two points with two games left to play.
In Division Two North West, Long Sutton 1st’s fine form continued with the 10-1 demolition of high-flying Cambridge Uni 3rd as Josh Baker scored an incredible double hat-trick.
They raced into a 6-1 lead at half-time thanks to goals from Baker (4), Gary Hales and Joshua Fyson.
Baker’s reverse stick finish and McKenzie East’s strike made it eight, before Hales and that man Baker rounded off the rout.
Divisional rivals Spalding 2nd are still battling for survival after a thrilling 3-3 draw with relegation rivals Cambridge City over-45s.
Steve Rogers (2) and Dan Plant got the goals as Spalding remain second-from-bottom but are just a point behind City.
Down in Division Four North West, champions Long Sutton 2nd were on typical form as they battered Ely CIty 2nd 9-1 at home.
Tyler Hagan led the charge with a fine four-goal salvo, while Stefan Fox, Will White, Dan Batten, Edmund White and Alex Canham also got amongst the goals.
In the same division, Spalding 4th enjoyed a big 5-0 win at Kettering 3rd.
Aaron Scholes was on fire with a hat-trick, while Dave Burrell and Jack Martin also netted once apiece.
Elsewhere, Long Sutton 3rd were handed a 5-0 walkover defeat at Cambridge Nomads 3rd in Division Five North West.
Spalding 5th, meanwhile, were handed their first defeat of the Division Six North West season as they were thrashed 5-1 at Ely City 3rd.
Tom Pilgrim got their consolation with a driven free hit from outside of the D.
Saturday fixtures: Wisbech 1st v Spalding 1st (1.45pm); Spalding 2nd v St Ives 1st (12.30pm); St Neots 1st v Long Sutton 1st (1pm); Wisbech 3rd v Long Sutton 2nd (noon); Cambs South 5th v Spalding 4th (10.30am); Spalding 5th v St Ives 5th (3.30pm).
