Men’s hockey round-up: Heavy defeat leaves Spalding 1st off the pace, Mountney helps himself to a hat-trick

Spalding 1st lost ground in the race for a top four finish in East Men’s Hockey League Premier B after a 7-0 drubbing on Saturday.

It was a tough day at the office for South Holland’s leading side, as they shipped four goals in the first period and three more after the half-time interval at Blueharts 1st.

Spalding will be hoping to bounce back to form when they host Shefford and Sandy on Saturday (2pm).

In Division 2N, Long Sutton 1st were unable to make it two wins on the spin as they lost 3-2 at home against Harleston Magpies 3rd.

Ed White and Alex Canham both bagged goals, but Sutton stay bottom.

Elsewhere, Long Sutton 2nd suffered a 1-0 defeat at Spalding 2nd in the big Division 3NW derby clash.

Tim Maltby fired the only goal of the game at Glen Park as Spalding put the skids on Sutton’s bid to climb into the top four.

In Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd were handed a 4-3 beating at St Ives 3rd. Hugh Cruickshank grabbed both of the goals for Spalding, but they came up short against a home team that are one of only two teams below them in the table.

Down in Division 5NW, Spalding 4th enjoyed the best result of the weekend as they romped to a 7-1 home success over Bourne Deeping 4th.

Ryan Mountney was the star of the show with a hat-trick, while Chris McKenna also netted twice.

Jacob Drew and Tom Bland got the other Spalding goals in what was a superb showing.

In Division 5NW (N), Spalding 5th suffered a 3-0 beating at second-placed Horncastle 2nd. However, some 24 hours later Spalding battled out an exciting 4-4 draw at South Holland rivals Long Sutton 3rd.

Hosts Sutton looked to be in command when they raced into a 3-0 lead within the opening 20 minutes.

However, the travelling side showed their mettle and scored a superb breakaway goal when 13-year-old Tiago Read converted his first-ever senior goal with a composed finish.

They pulled another goal back through a clever strike from man-of-the-match Harry Blackman, who also bagged his maiden senior goal.

Sutton added a fourth just before the break, but Spalding refused to accept defeat and made it 4-3 through Adolfo Chantre’s deflected finish.

Not done there, Tom Bland picked his spot with a perfect precise finish to bring the sides level and ensure the derby spoils were shared.

Saturday’s fixtures: Premier B – Spalding 1st v Shefford & Sandy 1st (2pm). Division 2N – Pelicans 1st v Long Sutton 1st (2.30pm). Division 3NW – Cambridge University 3rd v Spalding 2nd (11am); Long Sutton 2nd v Cambs South 2nd (2.30pm). Division 4NW – Spalding 3rd v Wellingborough 1st (3.30pm). Division 5NW – Spalding 4th v St Neots 2nd (11.30am). Division 6NW (N) – Bourne Deeping 6th v Long Sutton 3rd (11am); Leadenham 3rd v Spalding 5th (1.30pm).

Sunday’s fixtures: Division 3NW – Spalding 2nd v St Neots 1st (2pm).