FAMOUS FIVE: Spalding Poachers 2nd shone against Newmarket. Photo (by NIKKI CLUCAS): VNC090116-16

Awesome AJ inspires confident Spalding Poachers 2nd win with hat-trick

Spalding Poachers 2nd produced a five-star display to thrash Newmarket 1st in East Women’s Hockey League Division 3NW on Saturday.

The girls were in a confident mood ahead of the clash – and that carried on in their performance, with Alanna ‘AJ’ Bunyan putting them 1-0 up early on. Bunyan then flicked home her second to make it 2-0 at half time.

Young talent Charlotte Maplethorpe made it 3-0 with the pick of the goals, picking the ball up at the halfway line and making a weaving run into the D before firing home.

Evie Maltby then swept home number four, before Bunyan rounded off the win with her hat-trick strike.

Up in Premier B, Spalding Poachers 1st put in a battling performance at leaders Saffron Walden before going down 1-0.

They remain in the bottom two with five games left to play.

Long Sutton ladies’ 1st were once again on winning form Division 2NW as they dispatched already-relegated Lindum 2nd 3-1 to go fourth. Strikers Leanne Woodhead (2) and Lyn Tancred both notched, as did player-of-the-match Leah Goodley.

Back in Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 3rd remain winless at the bottom following a 5-1 reverse against Ely City 1st.

A delighted Emma Gent notched a goal for the young development team.

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