Hockey round-up: Five-star Long Sutton 1st race to impressive victory

Long Sutton 1st shrugged off their impending relegation from East Men’s Hockey League Premier B Division with a 5-1 victory over Dereham 2nd on Saturday.

Alex Canham opened the scoring at the Peele Leisure Centre with a deflected finish after good work from Ed White, then Josh Baker netted with his customary aplomb to make it 2-0 at the break.

Although Dereham pulled one back, it was no surprise when Baker added his second goal to restore the two-goal cushion.

Sutton were not finished scoring, though, with both Will Taylor and James Collingwood Smith finishing well to make it a five-star win.

Up in Premier B, Spalding 1st were handed a 5-2 defeat at leaders Letchworth 1st.

Spalding showed what they are capable of in the first half and Stu Cunnington’s strike had them 2-1 down but looking dangerous.

Cunnington scored again in the second half and Spalding had another goal ruled out as the table-toppers ended up clear winners.

Down in Division 3NW, Long Sutton 2nd are third after soundly beating March Town 1st 3-1.

Josh Fyson, Luke Proctor, Luke Jackson and Jeremy Watt got their goals.

Spalding 2nd, meanwhile, are sixth after suffering a 5-2 defeat at already promoted City of Peterborough 4th.

In Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd are second-from-bottom after a thrilling 8-5 home defeat against Wisbech Town 2nd.

Hugh Cruickshank (2), Dave Burrell (2) and Matt Hicks got the goals.

Meanwhile, Spalding 4th slipped up 2-0 at March 2nd in Division 5NW.

Also beaten were Long Sutton 3rd in Division 6NW (N), who went down 4-1 at City of Peterborough 8th despite Jeremy Smith’s goal.

• Long Sutton ladies’ 1st remain third in East Women’s Hockey League after defeating Bury St Edmunds 2nd 2-0 in Division 2NW.

Hannah Baker netted in each half for Sutton, who are well placed to seal third place this season.

Spalding Poachers 1st, meanwhile, are fifth after a 2-1 defeat at Cambridge University 3rd. Charlotte Maplethorpe netted the Poachers’ only goal.

In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd enjoyed a derby win as they knocked off Bourne Deeping 2nd 3-0.

Kelly Tizzano (2) and AJ Bunyan got their goals.

Spalding Poachers 3rd were also on winning form in Division 4NW (N) as Amy Naylor and Kate Amess struck to sink Leademham 1st 2-0.