Spalding 1st bounced back from their first loss of the East Men’s Hockey League Premier B season to hammer high-flying Saffron Walden 1st 6-2 at Glen Park on Saturday.
The hosts started well and took the lead after ten minutes through Stuart Cunnington from a short corner, before Rob Dalton doubled the advantage a few minutes later.
Then the floodgates opened, as Spalding attacked with intent and Cunnington and Dan Needham scored from short corners to make it 4-0, before Glenn Richardson notched number five with his first touch of the game – delicately lifting the ball over a stranded keeper.
Not done there, Cunnington completed his hat-trick just before half time to make it an incredible 6-0.
The visitors pulled two goals back after the break, but Spalding held firm to make it five wins from six in third place in the table.
Also in Premier B, Long Sutton 1st were outgunned 6-3 by Cambs Uni 2nd and remain winless in the bottom two of the table.
Two fine finishes from man-of-the-match Josh Fyson had visitors Sutton level at 2-2 as the sides turned around, but four second-half goals accounted for them.
Danny Sisson did, at least, grab a consolation goal.
In Division 3NW, Long Sutton 2nd were 6-4 winners over Horncastle and are now in the top five.
Down a level in Division 4NW, leaders Spalding 3rd suffered their first loss of the campaign as they went down 7-6 against Cambs City 5th in a real thriller.
They were 4-1 down at half time despite a Glenn Perkins strike, but launched an impressive comeback early in the second period. Chris McKenna and Dominic Ibrahim scored quickly, before Perkins rifled home an equalising short corner.
Two more Cambs goals put Spalding 6-4 behind, only for Jake Rowbottom and Perkins’ hat-trick strike to level matters at the death.
However, a last-gasp short corner left Spalding stunned and beaten.
In the same division, Spalding 2nd were held 1-1 by Cambs Nomads 2nd.
Steve Rogers, who stepped up from the third team to lead the attack, who scored the Spalding goal – only to be denied the three points by an equaliser by the home team.
In Division 5NW, Long Sutton 3rd were also held to a 1-1 draw by Cambs South 3rd.
Visitors Sutton trailed 1-0 at the break, but earned a deserved point when Lewis Shooter unselfishly laid the ball to Jeremy Smith, whose low-driven shot was deflected home by Matt Goodley.
Divisional rivals Spalding 4th had a day to forget, as they crashed 7-0 at Bourne/Deeping 4th.
Elsewhere, there was a South Holland derby in Division 6NW (N) – and it was Spalding 5th who came out on top with a 4-0 victory over Long Sutton 4th.
Cameron Ibrahim and Jack Martin struck to put Spalding 2-0 to the good, before Ibrahim and older brother Kieran Ibrahim rounded off the scoring. The scoreline was a little harsh on Sutton, who competed well.
- Spalding Poachers 1st are still searching for their maiden win of the East Women’s League Division 1N campaign after a 1-1 draw with Blueharts ladies’ 1st.
The Spalding girls worked incredibly hard and defended well as a unit until they were finally undone by a Blueharts penalty corner deep into the first half.
A huge amount of pressure followed after the break, with Poachers’ keeper Bec Howitt making a string of fine saves.
Amazingly, Di Bevan then squeezed home a leveller – before another Howitt save, this time with her head, secured Spalding a point.
Down in Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd were held to a 0-0 draw at City of Peterborough ladies’ 3rd, whole Spalding Poachers 3rd drew 2-2 with March ladies’ 1st. Their goals came from Ellie Holland – who bagged a brace in a player-of-the-match showing.
- Spalding Poachers 1st progressed in the England Hockey Investec Women’s Trophy after a penalty shoot-out win over Norwich ladies’ 1st on Sunday.
Amy Wells and Di Bevan both scored as the girls came back from 2-0 down, before progressing 5-3 on penalties.
Their reward is a home tie against Wisbech on Sunday, November 22.
