Hockey round-up: Spalding 1st’s search for first win goes on after derby defeat

A strong first-half showing ultimately counted for nothing as Spalding 1st suffered a 6-2 derby defeat at City of Peterborough 1st in East Men’s Hockey League Premier A on Saturday.

Still searching for their first victory of their maiden campaign at this standard, it was 2-2 at half-time – but four unanswered second-half strikes sentenced Spalding to a fifth loss on the spin.

Hosts Peterborough (CoP) broke the deadlock with a well-taken goal, before Stuart Cunnington levelled with a trademark short corner.

With only five minutes to go until the interval CoP went ahead again, but Spalding immediately went on the counter and levelled with a well-worked goal from Robert Dalton.

However, the second half showing left Spalding to once again ponder how they managed to let their levels slip after a good first half.

They host fellow strugglers Ipswich at Glen Park this Saturday (11.30am).

In Division One, Long Sutton 1st’s winless run also continued with a 2-1 reverse at home against Cambs Nomads 1st. Josh Fyson got Sutton’s goal.

That theme continued in Division 3NW, with both Spalding 2nd and 3rd suffering their fifth successive defeats.

Spalding 2nd lost 6-2 at Cambs City 4th despite goals from Lawrence Smith-Hughes and Paul Pearson, while Spalding 3rd went down 5-1 against CoP 4th despite Chris McKenna’s strike.

Long Sutton 2nd bucked the South Holland losing trend in Division 4NW with a 6-0 home triumph over Bourne/Deeping 3rd. The goals came from Gary Hales (2), Nick Ellis (2), Josh Baker and Will Taylor.

In Division 5NW, Spalding 4th suffered a 3-1 beating a St Neots 3rd – but the scoreline was harsh on them.

Shaun Dewing got their consolation against a home side that had their keeper to thank for the win.

Division 6NW (N), Long Sutton 3rd beat hosts Spalding 6th 3-1 thanks to strikes from Jon Goodley, Ian White and Adam Sisson. Ryan Douglas netted for Spalding.

In the same division, Spalding 5th beat Bourne Deeping 6th 4-0 with strikes from Jack Martin (2), Matthew Gedney and Jacob Drew.

• Lyn Tancred’s treble helped Long Sutton ladies’ 1st win 4-3 at Alford 1st to go joint top in East Women’s Hockey League Division 2NW.

Leah Goodley also netted as Sutton made it four wins from five games.

In the same division Spalding Poachers 1st went down 1-0 at CoP 2nd.

In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd suffered a 3-1 home reverse at the hands of Ely ladies’ 1st.

Eva Keyes, who ran half way down the pitch completely unmarked before netting, scored Spalding’s only goal of the game.

Down in Division 4NW, Emma Gent (2) and Calypso Priestley scored as Spalding Poachers 3rd saw off Bourne Deeping 3rd 3-2.

Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd were also 2-0 winners over Woodhall Spa 1st, with Heather Ludlam and Hannah Baker bagging.