The Voice of Spalding and South Holland
A last gasp goal from Andy Barlow secured the East Men’s Hockey League Division Six North West title for Spalding 5th on Saturday.
The runaway table-toppers, who have yet to lose in the league all season, had to wait until the dying seconds to wrap up the title with Barlow netting from the last touch of the game to give Spalding 5th a 1-0 win over St Ives 5th.
Up in Division One North, Spalding 1st remain five points clear at the top after a big 3-2 win at Cambridge University 2nd.
Joe Higgins and Stuart Cunnington netted in the first half to give Spalding a 2-0 advantage, but a twice-taken penalty stroke pulled the hosts within one at half time.
Showing more agression in the second half, Cambridge got themselves level.
But there was still time for Cunnington to snatch the points for Spalding with his second a minute from time.
Meanwhile, player-of-the-match Josh Baker scored five goals as Long Sutton 1st thrashed Cambridge South 2nd 9-3.
Josh Fyson (2), Luke Proctor and Brad Sargeant got the other goals.
In the same division, Spalding 2nd kept their survival hopes alive with a 5-2 win over St Neots 1st.
Jacob Drew (2), Steve Rogers, Robin Edlington and Glen Richardson got the goals.
In Division Four North West, champions-elect Long Sutton 2nd eased to a 3-0 win over Cambridge City 6th. Alex Canham, Josh Smith and Stefan Fox were on-target for them.
Divisional rivals Spalding 4th slipped up 3-2 at Bourne Deeping 4th despite a double from Jack Martin.
Elsewhere, Long Sutton 3rd romped to a 6-0 win over hosts Cambridge South 6th. Ian White (2), Jeremy Smith, Jack Smith, Adam Pack and Gary Hales netted in the Division Five North West clash.
Saturday fixtures: Spalding 1st v Bury SE 1st (12.30pm); St Ives 2nd v L Sutton 1st (2pm); COP 4th v Spalding 2nd (4pm); COP 6th v L Sutton 2nd (1pm); Spalding 4th v St Neots 2nd (3.30pm); L Sutton 3rd v Kettering 4th (1pm); Spalding 5th v Wisbech 4th (5pm).
