Charlie Paine, on her home debut, hit a hat-trick as Wisbech ladies thumped Spalding 5-0 at Harecroft Road in Division 1N on Saturday.

The hosts started well and took an early lead when Claire Apted slotted home. After a further spell of attacking play Wisbech were unable to capitalise on several short corners.

Just before half time Wisbech were put under pressure by Spalding but classy defending from Katie Dunn and Emma Barnard kept them at bay.

Wisbech turned things around after half time and Paine scored her first from a neat penalty corner routine.

Her next came from a calm finish in open play and she shortly finished off her hat-rick with an accurate short corner strike.

Finally, Joey Gomm completed a well worked attacking move with a spectacular strike that found the left top corner.

Wisbech men went into their second Prem B game of the season full of confidence after seeing off local rivals Long Sutton the previous weekend, and this showed in the opening exchanges against Norwich City.

City, who beat Harleston 7-1 last week, couldn’t deal with the pace and energy of the Wisbech midfield and forward line, with Brad Apted and Lee Punter impressing.

It wasn’t long before Wisbech got the rewards their pressure deserved, with Apted rounding defender and goalkeeper before squaring the ball to Tom Culshaw who grabbed his first league goal for the first team.

The tireless work rate of Will Denny and Scott Welcher, plus defending from the front from Sam Blunt, meant Norwich struggled to escape from their half until late in the first half when they won a free hit outside the 23 yard line which was deflected by a Norwich forward to mean the teams went in at half time all square.

As the first half was coming to a close, ill-discipline began to creep in. This became a continuing theme in the second half.

Wisbech still managed to create most of the chances, however, and thought that they had scored when Denny crashed home. But the umpires ruled the ball had hit a foot in the D in the build up.

Wisbech continued to apply pressure, but shots and short corners were not quite coming off.

Man of the match Tom Jupp was a constant threat on the right hand side, but Norwich, with 16 players available to Wisbech’s 12, scored two goals with five minutes to go to seal a 3-1 win.