NE14 Hockey East Men’s League

Division 2N

FOLLOWING the previous week’s close match at Cambridge University, IES welcomed Spalding to the Copleston Centre, welcoming back emphatic striker Cole and midfielders Klug and Jones to the side but losing skipper Brown to a family wedding. The Lincolnshire side, promoted with ease from Division 3NW, were well drilled and looked more up for the game at the start. They forced early advances down each wing and luckily won a penalty corner for an innocuous foul. This resulted in a drilled shot to the left post which neither the IES keeper Lane or postman Howe could stop.

Spalding were soon two up through well-worked goals, and IES were facing down the barrel of a defeat after only 10 minutes. However, the Suffolk side rallied and went for the jugular, forcing a penalty corner. Centre-back Howe stepped up and hit a shot somewhat luckily past the Spalding keeper. Howe soon got involved again, with his dragged effort finding Tingey’s stick at the back post at a second penalty corner.

But Spalding hit back and following a fairly obvious foot by their forward, he slipped it to a spare man who passed into an empty net for a 3-2 lead at half time.

IES’ coach Pettit called for more organisation from his side and they duly applied themselves with aplomb. IES went back to their attacking self and swept forward in waves, but to no avail. It took a yellow card for Kendrick, his second in two weeks, to rally IES into action. Once the battling midfielder returned, the home side scored from another penalty corner via the stick of Howe’ whose shot this time was struck cleanly into the backboard.

Three all and game on, and IES continued to go for the win while Spalding argued many decisions. IES took advantage and Tingey was soon through one on one with the Spalding keeper, who didn’t come off his line. The forward took advantage of his indecision and fired into the bottom corner for what proved to be the winning goal.

IES man of the match was James Howe, and his side head for Ely City next weekend.

IES Squad: Lane (G), Curtis, Coulson (C), Howe, Farrow, Kendrick, Page, Sutton, Klug, Cole, Tingey, Jones, Oakley