Spalding suffer home loss to Magpies

A Stu Cunnington strike couldn’t stop Spalding Hockey Club’s top men’s team from losing 3-1 at home to Harleston Magpies 2nd on Saturday.
Spalding 1st remain bottom of the East Men’s Hockey League Premier Division after the defeat at Glen Park.
Trailing 1-0 at the break, Spalding bossed the early stages of the second period before conceding a second.
Cunnington hit back with a short corner drag flick, but Harleston added a third to leave Spalding beaten for the sixth time this season.
In Division 3NW, Spalding 2nd enjoyed a 2-0 victory at Cambridge South 4th. A first-half strike from Steve Rogers and Jacob Drew’s strike after the break sealed the points.
Down in 4NW Spalding 3rd continue to go great guns and are third after thrashing Ely City 2nd 8-0.
Glenn Richardson was the start of the show with a four-goal haul, while Graeme Matthews, Paul Pearson, Arron Borst and Matthew McManamon-Cookson also found the net.
Elsewhere, Spalding 4th lost 4-2 at Ely City 3rd in Division 5NW.
Ed Sly and Cameron Roy got the goals in defeat.
In the East Women’s Hockey League, Spalding Poachers 1st suffered a humbling 7-0 defeat at Norwich Dragons 1st in Division One North.
After a difficult first period, Spalding shipped three goals and found the home defence in an impenetrable mood.
Four more goals followed after the interval as the Poachers were left to reflect on the game and will use it as a learning curve.
It was a better day for Spalding Poachers 2nd, who are now third in Division 3NW.
Zoë Moore (2), Erin McMurray, Amy Naylor and Maisie Foden got the goals.
Saturday fixtures: Men – COP 2nd v Spalding 1st (11.30am); Spalding 2nd v COP 5th (3.30pm); Kettering 4th v Spalding 3rd (11.30am); Spalding 4th v Kettering 5th (11am). Women – Spalding 1st v Cambridge South 1st (2pm); Spalding 2nd v St Neots 2nd (12.30pm); Haverhill 1st v Spalding 3rd (11am).