CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 4th 2 SPALDING 1st 3: DANNY Shardlow’s late winner lifted Spalding up to second in Division Three NW as they knocked off one of their chief title rivals.
The visitors started well as Keith Stennett opened the scoring from a short corner, but Peterborough were soon level from the same avenue.
Spalding regained the lead when Shardlow reacted quickest amid a goalmouth scramble, only for COP to equalise again before half time.
Although Spalding dominated much of the second period, their winner came two minutes from time when Shardlow deflected home a Glenn Perkins cross.
WISBECH 1st 9
LONG SUTTON 1st 2
SUTTON were given a masterclass in attacking hockey by their Premier B rivals on Saturday.
Ruthless Wisbech raced into an early two-goal lead, with Sutton struggling to retain possession. This allowed Wisbech to capitalise with their speed and accuracy and they scored twice to lead 4-0 at the break.
Despite losing their captain for dissent after five minutes, Sutton produced their best hockey of the game early in the second half and scored twice through Gary Hales and Danny Sisson.
But their hopes of a comeback were vanquished by a barrage of Wisbech goals and a red card to their returning skipper for stopping the ball above his shoulder.
Despite the efforts of man-of-the-match-match Nick Ellis, Wisbech finished with nine goals.
BLUEHARTS 1st 4
LONG SUTTON 1st 0
DESPITE the scoreline, Sutton gave a much-improved performance at the league leaders on Sunday.
After making a positive start, Sutton fell behind against a Blueharts side playing like a side determined to get promotion.
Sutton played some great stuff of their own, with noticeable performances from the returning Tom Baguley and stand-in right back Fred Whatling. Keeper Jacob Loweth made some fine stops, but Blueharts added three more after the break.
SPALDING 2nd 1
BOURNE/DEEPING 2nd 3
SPALDING’S Division Four NW promotion hopes took a hit after this derby loss.
With Phil Callow forced off after taking a ball to the face early on, Spalding had to make changes and soon found themselves 2-0 down.
Ed Hall pulled one back from a short corner, but in-form keeper Rob Callaby was beaten once more to seal Spalding’s fate.
LONG SUTTON 2nd 4
CITY OF PETERBOROUGH 5th 4
AN INSPIRED comeback helped Sutton bag a deserved draw.
Having lost the reverse fixture 9-1, Sutton started this game much brighter and led 2-1 at half-time thanks to a Ben Shore brace.
Two quick-fire goals after the break and superb short corner then turned the game on its head, as COP went 4-2 up.
However, man-of-the-match Shore completed his hat-trick, before Stef Fox’s late leveller sparked wild celebrations.
SPALDING 5th 4
SLEAFORD 3
FOUR second-half goals helped Spalding sink Sleaford.
Trailing 2-0 at the break, an incredible Adrian Bettinson hat-trick turned the tables early in the second period.
Sleaford hit back to level, only for Dan Barkworth to slam home a last-gasp winner from the top of the D.
CAMBS CITY LADIES’ 4th 0
SPALDING POACHERS 2nd 1
POACHERS snatched a deserved late winner through Lily Dobbs.
It was goalless at the break, with Spalding playing superbly with just ten players. Good organisation by sweeper Laura Watling and tremendous defensive efforts from the whole team prevented Cambridge from scoring.
Poachers stepped it up in the last ten minutes, with Karen Breen delivering a number of super crosses.
Tamika Providence and Dobbs also linked up superbly – with the latter eventually rewarded with a slotted winner.
LONG SUTTON LADIES’ 2nd 5
SPILSBY LADIES’ 1st 0
KATE Ireland fired a hat-trick as Sutton returned to action with a bang.
Louise Billingham and Helen Worth also found the net, as Sutton benefited from superb crosses from Lorraine Wallis, Jessica Hudson and Louise Southgate.
The defence of Mair Goodge, Jayme Hunt, Jill Warrick, Laura Temple and also green-carded captain Lisa Baker helped ensure that keeper Claire Billingham kept a clean sheet.
NEWMARKET LADIES’ 3rd 1
SPALDING POACHERS 3rd 3
IN the furthest away fixture of the season, Poachers earned a fine win.
New signing Hannah Albans was handed a start as Spalding started superbly. They were eventually rewarded through an early goal from Sam Campbell.
The new team formation continued to press high and Poachers soon doubled their advantage through the prolific Kate Woolley.
However, a lucky Newmarket break undid some of Spalding’s fine work and made it 2-1 at half time.
Undeterred, some good link-up play from Emily Brown and Millie Middlebrook on the left led to a series of short corners, from which Spalding were unlucky not to score.
Belinda Providence also supported well through the middle, while player-of-the-match Maisie Dobbs was strong in defence.
Spalding did manage a third in the end, with Campbell bagging her second of the day.