A five-goal haul from Ben Shore was the catalyst for Long Sutton 2nd’s best performance of the season in Division 4NW.
After last week’s lacklustre display, it wasn’t long before table-topping Sutton got into their stride against a resolute Horncastle 1st outfit – and they eventually ran out 11-2 winners.
Dan Batten put them ahead, then three short corners guided them to a 4-1 advantage at the interval with Shore (2) and Jeremy Watt converting.
Horncastle briefly made it 4-2, but three more goals from Shore and two apiece for player-of-the-match Andy Shore and Nick Bailey left Sutton on-course for the title.
Skipper Matt Holmes said: “I’m proud of the boys’ performance today and hope we can continue with the same form for the last four games of the season.”
Long Sutton 1st were also in fantastic form in Premier B, as they smashed Havering 1st for six at the Peele Leisure Centre. The prolific Josh Fyson netted a hat-trick in the 6-3 success, which keeps Sutton’s hopes of survival alive.
An emphatic first-half showing set the tone, with two penalty corners from Fyson, a pair of calm finishes from Gary Hales and a Danny Sisson strike putting the hosts 5-1 ahead at the interval.
Havering pulled two goals back in the second period, but Sutton refused to collapse and clinched the points late on when Fyson rounded off his treble.
Meanwhile, Spalding 1st continued their late charge for promotion in Division 2N with a 5-2 triumph over Norwich Dragons 1st. Having fallen behind early on, Michael Morris levelled the score at 1-1 at half time.
Spalding then came out all guns blazing in the second period and goals from Stuart Cunnington (two penalty corners), Morris and Danny Shardlow got the job done.
It was a good day for Spalding 2nd in Division 4NW too, as they beat mid-table rivals City of Peterborough 6th 5-3.
Although Graham Doades put Spalding 1-0 up, they looked down and out at 3-1 at the interval. But Chris McKenna , Glenn Perkins, Pete Wright (2) and Doades all notched to complete an impressive comeback.
Down in Division 6NW (N), Long Sutton 2nd slipped to a 3-2 loss at Horncastle 2nd.
Man-of-the-match Ed White stroked Sutton ahead, but the hosts turned it around to go in 2-1 up at the break. A a reverse stick shot from Jack Smith levelled matters, but it was Horncastle who grabbed a winnner.
In the same division, Spalding 5th went down 4-1 at leaders Leadenham 1st and Spalding 4th drew 0-0 with Alford 2nd. Ed Sly got the goal for the 5th side.