Season’s best show from resurgent Spalding 2nd

Spalding 2nd enjoyed their best result of the campaign so far on Saturday as they upset Division 3NW high-fliers Wisbech 2nd 3-0 in East Men’s Hockey League.

After a solid defensive performance in the early stages, Joe Higgins put Spalding into the lead at Glen Park with a well-placed shot.

Hector Moore then added a second goal with an excellent strike, before Pete Wright finished off a well worked short corner to give Spalding a great confidence boost and three points.

Up in Premier B, Long Sutton 1st were handed a 4-0 reverse at Ipswich. Josh Fyson came very close to opening the scoring for Sutton, before they fell behind at the break.

Despite a player-of-the-match show from Tom Baguley, three second-half goals sealed Sutton’s fate.

In Division One, title-chasing Spalding 1st were held 2-2 at top-of-the-table Ipswich East Suffolk 1st in what was only their second game since December.

Two first-half short corners from goal-getter Stuart Cunnington put Spalding in control at half time as they led 2-0, but only a super flying save from Univeg man-of-the-match Richard Price kept out a penalty flick.

That’s how it stayed up until the final 15 minutes, when Ipswich pulled two goals back to level – and keep the title race wide open.

Back in Division 3NW, Long Sutton 2nd picked up a welcome 4-1 win over basement boys Ely City 2nd.

Ben Shore gave Sutton a half-time lead, before adding two more from short corners to wrap-up a hat-trick. Dan Oldfield rounded off the win with his first goal for the team.

Spalding 3rd, meanwhile, were beaten 4-3 by Bourne/Deeping 3rd in a Division 4NW thriller.

Despite Tom Shinkins’ strike, Spalding felt a little hard done by to be 3-1 down at the interval. They hit back through Peter Gray and Darren Grooby to make it 3-3, but a short corner late on sealed Spalding’s fate.

Meanwhile, Spalding 4th romped to an 8-0 success over Alford 2nd in Division 5NW. Nick Hatfield, Matthew Thorley, David Dorey, Keith Stennett (3), Martyn Pocklington and Mark Haynes got the goals.

In the same division, Long Sutton 3rd were beaten 2-1 by March Town 2nd. Having fallen behind in a great end-to-end game, Jack Smith levelled for Sutton before March grabbed the winner.

Down in Division 6NW (N), Spalding 5th made it five wins on the spin with a 3-2 success over Bourne/Deeping 5th.

Willem Borst and Max Bodimead struck to put Spalding 2-0 to the good, but that soon became 2-1.

However, Bodimead’s second clinched the points.

The other game in 6NW (N) saw Long Sutton 4th beaten 4-1 by Grantham 1st thanks to three early goals.Michael Synnott got Sutton’s consolation.

• Robyn Gribble bagged a hat-trick as third-placed Long Sutton ladies’ 1st beat Ely City ladies’ 1st 7-2 in East Women’s League Division 2NW. Lisa Baker, Amber Wild, Leanne Woodhead and player-of-the match Jeorgia Carr got the other goals.

Spalding Poachers 1st remain top of the same division after an emphatic 5-1 win at Wisbech ladies’ 2nd.

Kelly Tuplin (3) and Kelly Slater (2) were on target for Spalding, who remain two points clear at the summit.

In Division 3NW (N), a late Eva Keyes consolation couldn’t stop Spalding Poachers 2nd losing 3-1 against title rivals Lincoln ladies’ 2nd.

Elsewhere, Sam Foston and Evie Maltby bagged for Spalding Poachers 3rd as they prevailed 2-0 over Spilsby ladies’ 1st, while Long Sutton ladies’ 2nd were beaten 2-0 by Skegness ladies’ 1st.

• Skipper Kelly Tuplin scored twice for Spalding Poachers 1st as they lost 5-2 against Wisbech Ladies’ 1st in the third round of the England Hockey Trophy.
• Glenn Perkins and Chris McKenna scored for Spalding 2nd as they exited the England Hockey Men’s 2nd national competition at the quarter-final stage against a strong Loughborough Student 2nd outfit.