HOCKEY: Katie’s assists are key to Spalding Ladies’ 1st comeback

League leaders Spalding Ladies 1st recovered from the shock of falling behind inside 60 seconds to grab a last-gasp 3-2 win at Cambridge University 2nd.

They trailled 1-0 for just a minute before Katie Gray’s fine solo run set up league top scorer Kelly Tuplin.
Spalding felt they should have had a penalty stroke when a penalty corner effort was stopped on the line by a defender’s body.
And after Gray had a shot stopped on the line by a foot, Spalding fell behind again.

However, Gray set up a goal for Tori Needham and the winner by Tuplin 50 seconds from time.
Joint players of the match were Gray and Karen Timby.

Long Sutton 1st lost out 3-2 in a superb game with second-placed City of Peterborough 1st.
Tierney Augustine fired the city side into a 2-0 lead, but Jeorgia Carr set up Robyn Gribble to pull one back for Sutton.
It got even better when Leanne Woodhead created an opening for Gribble’s second before half-time. However, Lyn Tancred grabbed a winner for the visitors.
Sutton keeper Lorraine Wallis said: “We are disappointed but make no mistake we showed great character to come from two goals down against a top team who perhaps just deserved the win on the day.”

Long Sutton 2nd went down 3-0 to Horncastle.
Hannah Maris made excellent tackles in the Sutton defence and Sophie Gray had a great game on return from illness.

In Division 3NW (N), Sally Pilgrim’s unstoppable thunderbolt from the top of the D set Spalding 2nd on the way to a 3-1 win over Leadenham 1st.

The result moved them up to second in the table, thanks to Spalding 3rd’s superb 3-2 win at Skegness 1st.
Evie Maltby picked the ball up on the Skegness 25 and ran it into the D, and slotted it through the keeper’s legs for 1-0.
Skegness equalised but Karen Thorold restored the lead in the second half.

Despite great work by keeper Christina Dewing and a goal-line save by Samantha Maltby, Skegness levelled again.
Spalding’s winner came 16 minutes from time, Rachel Perkins with a perfect finish from a short corner.

Leave a Reply