Ladies’ hockey round-up: Perfect season is within reach for Poachers, Timby treble in Spalding 2nd win

Spalding Poachers 1st are now just two wins away from completing a perfect season in East Women’s Hockey League Division Two North.

Already crowned champions, Poachers made it 20 wins from as many games by beating hosts Cambridge University 3rd 5-2.

Charlotte Maplethorpe (2), Georgina Maplethorpe, Evie Maltby and Ellie Holland got the goals for the red-hot side, who are now 19 points clear of the rest in the table.

The visitors led 3-0 at the break, Georgina Maplethorpe opening the scoring before a super strike from Maltby into the corner.

Charlotte Maplethorpe then span superbly infront of the keeper before slotting in her first of the day.

The hosts hit back early in the second half, but a great run and assist from Maddie Haunch allowed Holland a back-post tap-in for 4-1.

It was soon 4-2, but Charlotte Maplethorpe had the last word with a strike from just inside the D.

In the same division, Long Sutton ladies’ 1st remain in the bottom three after losing 3-1 at Cambridge City 4th.

Amber Jones grabbed the consolation goal for the greens.

Elsewhere, Spalding Poachers 2nd are just four points off third place in Division Three North West after they beat Kettering 2nd 4-1.

It was a day to remember for Karen Timby, who helped herself to a terrific hat-trick.

Despite a flurry of penalty corners, it took Timby patience and determination to finally fire one into the bottom right of the goal for the opener.

Inspired, player-of-the-match Timby made the most of the gap and managed to push two more goals into the bottom right corner for her treble.

Maisie Foden, who dazzled in the central midfield, then scored with a fabulous shot from an acute angle which found its way over the line.

With three games left, the team are still fighting to move towards the top and finish on a high.
In the same division, Spalding Poachers 3rd are battling to beat the drop and picked up a priceless 5-2 success at Huntingdon 1st.

Strikes from Tabitha Dunnett, Claire Hindmarsh, Honor Pearson, Sam Foston and Milly Hastings moved them to within a point of Bourne Deeping 2nd and two behind Shefford and Sandy 2nd.

Elsewhere, Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd slipped to a 2-0 defeat against leaders March Town 1st in Division Five North West.

Jasmine Smith put in a fine performance in defeat for Sutton and was rewarded with the player-of-the-match award.

The loss leaves Sutton fourth in the standings, a point off third spot.

Saturday’s fixtures: Long Sutton 1st v Bourne Deeping 1st (2.30pm); Spalding 1st v Cambridge City 4th (2pm); Spalding 3rd v Cambridge City 5th (11am); Cambridge South 3rd v Spalding 2nd (1.30pm); Cambridge South 5th v Long Sutton 2nd (3pm).