A last-gasp effort from man-of-the-match Russ Watts earned Spalding 1st a thrilling 3-2 win at St Ives in East Hockey League Division One on Saturday.
Without three experienced defensive players, including captain Josh Rowbottom, Spalding knew they’d be in for a tougher test than initially expected as they made the trip to face the basement boys.
Stuart Cunnington’s well executed short corner strike put them ahead, only for St Ives to level straight away.
Goal-getter Cunnington was again on hand to fire Spalding back ahead with a poacher’s effort, but St Ives duly levelled again for 2-2.
That’s how it stayed up until the dying seconds, when the ever-industrious Robert Dalton found man-of-the-match Watts, who was on hand to squirm the ball past the advancing keeper from close range.
The three points keeps Spalding’s leading side in third position, just three points behind leaders Chelmsford.
Up in Premier B, Long Sutton 1st were handed a 4-2 reverse by City Of Peterborough (COP) 2nd.
Josh Fyson twice gave Sutton the lead in the first half as they led 2-1 at the break, but they missed a great chance to extend their lead when Ben Shore rounded the keeper and slotted wide.
After this Sutton completely imploded and shipped three unanswered goals.
In Division 3NW, Long Sutton 2nd battled out a thrilling 3-3 draw with COP 5th. Although Adam Wiles put them ahead, the city side turned that around to lead 2-1 at half time.
Back came Sutton though, as a rocketed drag finish from Stef Fox levelled matters and Alex Canham’s cool finish following great work from Simon Clarke and Wiles put them ahead at 3-2.
There was still time for a COP leveller, as Sutton reflected on an opportunity missed.
It was a day to forget for Spalding 2nd in the same division, though. They were drubbed 7-0 by Cambs City 4th at Glen Park.
Down a level in Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd saw their unbeaten start to the season ended by Cambs City Vets.
Two well-taken short corners saw Spalding go down 2-0.
Meanwhile, Spalding 4th earned their second win of the Division 5NW season as they dispatched visitors Cambs City 5th 2-1.
Skipper Martyn Pocklington broke the deadlock when he found the net after some good work from Dominic Ibrahim.
A rare goal from Kieran Ibrahim then put the home side 2-0 ahead, but a goal ten minutes from time left Spalding hanging on.
In the end, they were thankful for Nick Hatfield’s defending as they saw out the victory.
In the same division, Long Sutton 3rd earned their first win of the campaign by edging out Horncastle 2nd 4-3 in a real thriller.
Calvin Bishop and Adam Sisson slapped Sutton into a 2-0 lead inside ten minutes, before Jack Smith made it three soon after.
Horncastle pulled goals back either side of the break to make it 3-2, only for Harry Synott to tap home after a dazzling run from Smith to give Sutton a two-goal cushion.
A late Horncastle goal left Sutton nervy, but they held on.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Spalding 5th remain bottom after losing 5-3 at Louth 2nd.
James Reston (2) and Tom Mayhew did have Spalding 3-2 ahead at one stage, but it wasn’t to be.
Long Sutton 4th are just above their South Holland neighbours after being soundly beaten 4-0 by leaders Bourne/Deeping 5th. It’s now four losses from five for Sutton.
Saturday’s fixtures
Premier B – Long Sutton v Ipswich (1pm). D1 – Spalding 1st v Ipswich-East Suffolk 1st (3.30pm). D3NW – Ely City 2nd v Long Sutton 2nd (1.30pm); Wisbech Town 2nd v Spalding 2nd (4pm). D4NW – Spalding 3rd v Bourne/Deeping 3rd (12.30pm). D5NW – Alford & District 2nd v Spalding 4th (2pm); March Town 2nd v Long Sutton 3rd (3pm). D6NW (N) – Long Sutton 4th v Spalding 5th (11.30am).
