Table-toppers Spalding made it four East Men’s Hockey League wins on the spin by thrashing promoted West Herts 2nd 6-0 on Saturday.
After a largely shaky start that saw the hosts fail to convert a number of short corners, visitors Spalding went ahead when youngster Joe Rogers buried a short corner of his own into the bottom corner.
Leading 1-0 at the break, Spalding cranked up the pressure in the second period and Rogers buried two goals from open play to complete his hat-trick.
Tom Everton made it 4-0 with an easy tap in at the back post before Stuart Cunnington and Josh Rowbottom completed the scoring to make it 6-0 – and keep Spalding three points clear at the summit.
Down in Division One, Long Sutton lost an 11-goal thriller with Shefford and Sandy 6-5 at the Peele Leisure Centre.
Having trailed 1-0, Sutton led 3-2 at the break after goals from Ben Shore, Jamie Featherstone and Fred Whatling.
Will Cook and Josh Fyson added to Sutton’s tally after the break, but the away side rallied with four goals of their own to take the points.
In Division 3NW, Spalding 2nd picked up their first win of the campaign by knocking off hosts Wisbech 2nd 4-0.
A moment of individual brilliance from Dom Ibrahim, who danced past three defenders and unleashed a fierce effort, put them ahead.
Ryan Mountney then flicked home the second to give them a cushion at half time, before Ibrahim buried number three after a great assist from James Stone.
Mountney rounded off the scoring when he made no mistake with a flick after debutant Jacob Baker was crudely hacked down by the keeper.
The other 3NW clash was a derby duel between Spalding 3rd and Long Sutton 2nd, with Ryan Davy notching a last-gasp leveller for Spalding.
Steve Rogers put Spalding ahead after they started much the brighter at Glen Park, but Nick Ellis managed to force the ball into the net for an equaliser for Sutton on the stroke of half time.
A thunderous strike from Ellis then put Sutton ahead in the second period, only for Davy to rescue a late point with a rebound finish.
Although they were denied maximum points, the draw represents Sutton’s first point of the campaign.
Meanwhile, Spalding 4th romped to a 9-0 win over Long Sutton 4th in another South Holland derby showdown in Division 6NW (N).
Six goals in the first half through Shaun Dewing (2), James Mayhew, Max Bland and Stuart Perkins (2) put Spalding in command at half time, before Andy Barlow, Darren Willson and Perkins – who completed off his hat-trick – rounded off the rout and kept them top.
Sutton 3rd did take the bragging rights in the week’s third derby, though, beating Spalding 5th 2-1.
They led 2-0 at half time, with Jack Martin pulling one back for a Spalding side that are still searching for their first victory of the campaign.
- A player-of-the-match showing from defender Caroline Chester O’Neil couldn’t stop Spalding Poachers 1st losing their first East Women’s League Division 2NW game of the season on Saturday.
Karen Timby had a goal ruled out in the first half, but two strikes from hosts Newmarket saw them win 2-0.
In the same division, Lyn Tancred and Louise Southgate both bagged goals as Long Sutton 1st picked up a 2-2 draw at Royston. Tancred’s goal was a last-gasp leveller.
In Division 3NW, Eva Keyes and player-of-the-match Akayla Newton got the goals as Spalding Poachers 2nd beat Huntingdon 2-0.
Spalding Poachers 3rd were also on winning form as they edged out rivals Long Sutton 2nd 1-0.
A moment of magic from Grace Hodgett settled the clash.
