A perfect away display kept Spalding Poachers 1st in the mix at the top of East Women’s Hockey League Division One as they crushed COP 2nd 6-0.
Katie Gray used her pace to round the keeper and give Spalding the lead early on, before to Kelly Slater tapped home number two.
A well-worked short corner routine was then tapped home by Gray for 3-0, with Kelly Tuplin slotted home an accurate fourth.
The final two goals came in the closing stages. Gray deflected home number five to compete her hat-trick, with Tuplin rounding off the rout.
It’s now four wins from five for Spalding, who are one point off leading duo COP 1st and Pelicans 1st.
In the same division, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st suffered a hugely unfortunate 4-0 defeat against the above-mentioned Pelicans in a game that was much closer than the scoreline suggests.
Sutton were left to wonder how they had nothing to show from 20 or more cracks on goal, with Pelicans much more clinical.
In Division 3NW, Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd snatched a last-gasp 2-1 win over rivals Spalding Poachers 3rd.
A brilliant Ellie Holland effort put Spalding ahead early on, only for Sutton to hit back through Sam Carr’s penalty flick.
Hosts Sutton then piled on the pressure in the second period and grabbed a winner through Amber Jones’ sweeping strike.
Saturday’s fixtures
D2NW – Spalding 1st v Wisbech Town 2nd (2pm); Ely City 1st v Long Sutton 1st (noon). D3NW – Long Sutton 2nd v Skegness 1st (2.30pm); Spalding 3rd v Spilsby 1st (11am); Lincoln 2nd v Spalding 2nd (noon).
