Hockey round-up: Stu’s stellar show in vain as Spalding 1st lose thriller

A Stu Cunnington hat-trick wasn’t enough for Spalding 1st on Saturday as they were beaten 4-3 by leaders Letchworth 1st in East Men’s Hockey League Premier B.

The Glen Park clash was a real game of two halves, with two goals from Cunnington – one from a short corner routine and a clever push-pass finish – giving Spalding a 2-0 lead at the break.

Letchworth soon took the lead with a back-post finish and two penalty strokes after the break, but Spalding rebuilt and levelled ten minutes from time with Cunnington’s hat-trick strike.

But, with the last ten minutes played in a rash manner, the visitors pinched the win thanks to a breakaway goal.

In Division 2N, rock-bottom Long Sutton 1st suffered another defeat at Dereham 2nd. Josh Baker netted for Sutton, but they were defeated 3-1.

Down in Division 3NW, in-form Long Sutton 2nd were 4-3 winners at March Town 1st thanks to goals from Frazer Watt, Brad Sargeant, Luke Proctor and Luke Jackson.

In the same division, Spalding 2nd battled out a 4-4 draw with City of Peterborough 4th with goals coming from Glenn Richardson (2), Steve Rogers and Tom Bettinson.

Meanwhile, Spalding 3rd suffered a 3-1 defeat at Wisbech Town 2nd in Division 4NW. Ryan Mountney netted in vain for them.

Also beaten were Spalding 4th, who slipped up 3-2 at home to March Town 2nd in Division 5NW with Chris McKenna and Dave Burrell scoring.

Down in Division 6NW (N), in-form Spalding 5th were 3-0 winners at Bourne Deeping 6th with Oli Baker, Darren Willson and Adolfo Chantre doing the damage.

Long Sutton 3rd went down 3-0 at Horncastle 2nd.

• A double from Connie Gittins helped Long Sutton ladies’ 1st pick up a decent 2-2 draw at East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW high-fliers Bury St Edmunds 2nd on Saturday.

Both strikes came in a stunning first-half showing that did see Sutton 2-0 ahead, but the hosts hit back after the break.

Divisional rivals Spalding Poachers 1st also drew 1-1 with Cambridge Uni 3rd at Glen Park, with Maddie Haunch their scorer.

AJ Bunyan (3) and Grace Hodgett netted as Spalding 2nd were 4-0 winners at Bourne Deeping 2nd in Division 3NW, while Spalding 3rd were thrashed 4-0 at Leadenham 1st in Division 4NW (N).

Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd were without a game in 4NW (N) and stay near the bottom of the pile.