MATCH REPORT

Long Sutton were hit by injury and illness to a number of key players this week but despite this took a squad of 12 to face Bourne Deeping 3s with a new playing formation as well. Sutton fought hard straight from the beginning with some good interlinking play between midfield and the forwards but were unable to convert anything. Bourne Deeping were awarded a short corner and with all the Sutton defence taking on different roles then normal at the short corners they worked well as a team with Rhian Goodge putting on her keepers kit after 3 years of playing outfield. With the short corner defended the ball was passed into midfield with some good connecting play from Sally Hoyles, Katie Collingwood-Smith and Hannah Baker. Again Sutton couldn't get a shot away in the D with some good defensive play from Bourne Deeping. With Baker taking a stick to the face this forced a substitution with Emile Raichelyte returning for her first game of the season after injury. With a short delay Bourne Deeping came back quickly and were awarded a short corner which they were able to convert to go 1-0. The rest of the half had some end to end play with the ball falling nicely to allow Lynne Braginton to be 1 on 1 with the keeper but her strike was deflected away. With a good team talk at half time Sutton came back fighting with some good pressure play from all players linking well from defence through to forwards. With some good overlapping play from the defenders Claire Smith was able to work well in her position as sweeper with the defence of Jemima Dodd, Lucy Smith and Becky Hales to allow them to remove the pressure play from Bourne Deeping. Within 10 minutes to go Sutton dominated the game with all the play remaining in the Bourne Deeping half. With several crosses into the D Sutton were unlucky to not get a last minute goal but persevered with this pressure up until the final whistle. Sutton were disappointed to not take a point from this game but go into midweek training ready for the next weekend with a home game against Spalding on the Saturday and a rearranged home game against Alford 2s on Sunday. A big Thank You to James Baker for coming with us this weekend