MATCH REPORT

Another home game at Peele Leisure Centre, another miserable day weather-wise as Long Sutton welcomed Alford Ladies. Always tight affairs against our rivals from Skegness, the earlier game in the season bearing testament to that when Long Sutton won 4-3. Long Sutton were looking for an improvement from last week's game against Nomads, Alford looking to cement mid tale respectability for this season. The game started in very wet conditions and it was Alford who adapted and started the better team. Alford were causing particular problems with their forwards running in behind the Sutton full backs to the base line and then pulling the ball back for runners. Sutton organised and as the half continued that threat was stopped, however, Alford now were gaining a lot of space in midfield as their tactic of the long ball hit bypassed the midfield of Leah Goodley, Louise Southgate, Connie and Emmie Gittins, Charlie Leuty and skipper Jo Bland. Time and time again the Alford "hit and hope" caused problems for Sutton and put pressure on the defence of Tania White, Gemma Parr, Lauren Cooper, Lisa Baker and Jess Burton and keeper Lorraine Wallis was called into action a number of times to snuff out danger. After 20 minutes another long Alford ball found their forward who slipped to the runner on the left hand side of the D. As the ball found her, she was completely unmarked in a position similar to Nomads last week and with time she hit across keeper Wallis and the ball was tapped home at the far post to give the away side the lead. A few minutes later from a penalty corner Alford nearly doubled their lead but the shot hit the roof of the net and the umpires quite rightly disallowed it as it was the first strike. Long Sutton tried to move the ball forward but forward Lyn Tancred was isolated and despite some decent movement the ball wasn't kept under control due to pressure and Alford were very adept as once turning the ball over counter attacking quickly. Alford should have doubled their lead when a long, long ball found their forward behind the home side defence and through on gaol with only Wallis in her way. Expert goalkeeping by Wallis put Alford under pressure and the chance was missed. However, within minutes Alford did double their lead when from a penalty corner the strike was deflected from Parr's stick and the ball looped high past the stranded Wallis. Half time arrived and to be honest Long Sutton needed it. The home side were not playing well, Alford wanted the 50/50 challenges more and Long Sutton needed to step up to the mark if they wanted something out of the game. That's exactly what did happen as the second half began. More composure, more ball control, more movement and more effort. Sutton began to move the ball wide and this caused problems for Alford with Connie Gittins, Southgate more into the game and with Amber Jones playing far left involved in some good passing movements to the forward position. Sutton went to one screen and moved Goodley up front with Tancred and this helped to put more pressure on to Alford and give Long Sutton a more advanced foothold. Sutton were indeed the more dominant and wanted the game more. Of course Alford receiving a "yellow" for an altercation with an Umpire helped the home sides cause but never the less Sutton were playing by now the better hockey. 15 minutes into the second half the ball reached Connie Gittins at the top of the D who fired a perfect shot past the keeper to half the deficit and give Sutton some home in this game. With Leuty and Bland now controlling the midfield and the defence looking secure Long Sutton continued to press and it wasn't long before skipper Bland picked the ball up and weaved a solo effort into the D before slipping a crisp shot past the keeper to tie the match up. Alford had one or two forays into the second half but the remaining 10 minutes of the game saw Long Sutton totally dominate. A number of chanced were created, penalty corners were given, but unfortunately the chances were not taken and the game finished as a draw. Perhaps a fair reflection of the match, Alford being in charge first half and Sutton the second, however, with the dominance in the latter stages Sutton will be wondering about the opportunity to gain all the points. Other results in the league were draws so the picture didn't change much as Long Sutton stay secure in 5th place 5 points behind 2nd but only 2 points behind 3rd.