There were goals galore for both the men’s and ladies’ first teams of St Albans Hockey Club.
The men had an incredible 16-1 win at home to Spalding and the ladies’ 9-0 success over Chelmsford was just as good.
Dave Williams led the way for the men with four goals, closely followed by Steve McManus who managed three.
Simon Clapham, Matt Davey, Dillet Gilkes, Luke Kennedy, Tariq Marcano, Jakob Plant, Harry Rayner, Martin Scanlon and George Scott all added one goal each.
The result keeps the Tangerines in the hunt for the title but that destiny is still very much in the City of Peterborough’s hands despite an extra game for St Albans. However, this performance will have cranked up the pressure on the leaders.
Saints were ahead in the first minute when Scott reacted quickest to a deflected Gilkes cross and it was doubled mere moments later through Rayner.
They added two more before the break, and although Spalding did pull one back on a rare excursion into St Albans territory, the hosts were in no mood to slow the onslaught.
Two more arrived shortly after the break and Davey converted a penalty corner for 7-1.
Marcano scored from a penalty flick and with Spalding down to 10 men, Saints went for the jugular with four in quick succession, including a first goal for defender Clapham.
Even back to a full 11 players Spalding could not live with the Tangerines and they added another four in devastating fashion.
The ladies are battling at the other end of the table in the Investec Women’s Hockey League Eastern Conference and knew a win would secure their place in the league for another season.
The manner they did it though was something else.
A brace from both Kirsty Barber and Nakira Downs as well as single goals from Amie Hone, Beth Davies, Tash Humpries, Adele Sammons and Katy Hart, hers arriving in the last minute, left the side ecstatic at the final whistle.
The outstanding team performance not only saves their league status but will send them into their final game of the year, at home to newly-crowned champions Hampstead & Westminster on April 7, full of confidence.
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