The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
Long Sutton 1st finally got their first win of the East Men’s Hockey League Premier B season on Saturday as they edged a nine-goal thriller with Felixstowe 1st 5-4.
Hosts Sutton started superbly at the Peele Leisure Centre and went ahead when Ben Shore fed Danny Sisson to fire home, but the away team enjoyed a large amount of possession and levelled from a breakaway before half time.
Two quick Sisson strikes, including an excellent finish on his reverse, allowed him to seal a hat-trick and Sutton to go 3-1 ahead early in the second period.
However, two quick goals soon made it 3-3 – and only a super save from Steve Kirkham stopped the hosts falling behind.
That proved key, as man-of-the-match Sisson soon drilled his fourth into the bottom corner to put Sutton back ahead, before Josh Fyson slotted home a penalty flick.
Not even a late consolation could stop Sutton from getting their first win on the board.
Also in Premier B, second-placed Spalding 1st were handed a 2-1 reverse at Waltham Forest 1st.
Spalding were 2-0 down at half time, but replied through Stuart Cunnington’s short corner strike.
Down in Division 4NW, Spalding 3rd stay top after making it seven wins from eight with a 5-1 win over Wisbech Town 3rd.
Two Tom Shinkins strikes put them 2-0 to the good at half time, then Tom Mayhew added a third for Spalding early in the second half.
Wisbech bounced back with a well-struck short corner, but skipper Steve Rogers and Tim Maltby both bagged to give Spalding a convincing victory.
In the same division, Spalding 2nd are now third after they won 2-1 at City of Peterborough 6th.
Spalding started with ten men and soon went 1-0 down. Glenn Richardson levelled in the second period with an inch perfect drag flick, setting the stage for Pete Wright to fire home the winner via the post.
In Division 5NW, Long Sutton 3rd were handed a 2-0 home reverse by Cambridge City 6th. Kane and Matt Portass stepped up superbly for Sutton, but it was Albert Slator who claimed the man of the match prize.
Also in 5NW, Spalding 4th remain in the bottom three after being handed a 4-2 loss at high-flying Alford 1st.
Martyn Pocklington and James Reston netted their goals.
Elsewhere, Spalding 5th romped to a 6-2 success aginst Horncastle 2nd in Division 6NW (N).
Jack Martin (2), Alex Cunnington (2), Andy Barlow and Ben Scholes grabbed the goals that keep Spalding fourth in the table.
- Spalding Poachers 1st are still searching for their first win in East Women’s Hockey League Division 1N after going down 5-2 at home to Norwich City ladies’ 1st.
Steph Wilson did have them level at 1-1 at one stage, but Kelly Slator’s late strike was something of a consolation.
In Division 3NW, Spalding Poachers 2nd managed a 1-1 draw at Haverhill ladies’ 1st.
Eva Keyes earned them a point when she scored from what is fast-becoming a trademark short corner.
In the same division, Spalding Poachers 3rd were handed a 5-0 home reverse by St Ives ladies’ 2nd. The loss leaves them winless and in the bottom two.
- Spalding Hockey Club’s under-14 boys romped to a super 6-0 win over Pelicans under-14s in the England Hockey under-4 Boys’ Cup Midlands cluster group match.
Their goals came from James Mayhew (2), Bailey Harker (2), Max Bland and Joe Maltby.
