MATCH REPORT

The season opener started with The Green Army making their way down the A1101 to local rivals Wisbech, who fresh from surviving last year had enhanced their second team squad this year with individuals dropping down from the 1st eleven. So Long Sutton were indeed prepared for a tougher encounter than last season. On a cool autumn day with a later push back of 3.30pm the game started and immediately the Long Sutton Ladies were on the front foot. You could tell it was very early stages of the season as the crispness of passes and the overall cohesion was not really evident, but nevertheless Sutton pressed for an early advantage. Unfortunately unable to get that advantage Wisbech started to get into the game and force Sutton back. A failure not to press the ball carrier put the Green Army into difficulties and Wisbech started a number of penetrations into the D which resulted in some 4 or 5 short corners in quick succession. It was during one of these corners that Wisbech took the lead. Long Sutton failing to deal with not only the initial strike, but also the follow up, with the ball finding its way to a Wisbech player who managed to fire the ball past the desperate dive of keeper Lorraine Wallis. Long Sutton took more pressure before a couple of half chances came their way just before the interval and gave the away side hope that things could be better in the second half. Indeed things were different in the second period. Long Sutton pressed possession more and made inroads into the Wisbech D securing 2 or 3 short corners quickly; however they didn't secure a positive outcome with the keeper saving well from Leanne Woodhead's strike and the Wisbech defence standing firm. Long Sutton continued to press with Woodhead once again failing to connect properly this time with a reverse stick as chances were created. By now Wisbech were reliant on a quick break, but apart from one short in the second half the Green Army were the dominant team looking to get something from the game. Despite all the efforts the final whistle came and Long Sutton went down 0-1. On the second half performance Long Sutton deserved something from the game but it was not to be. The Green Army will no doubt be better for having played the game. There is a bonding and team spirit that will continue to shine and with more pitch time the fluidity that the Ladies gained last year will come back. Yes it's not nice to lose and especially against a local rival but there were signes especially in the second half that the Ladies will have a decent season. The next match will be a fortress Peele where we take on Newmarket. This game will give us an opportunity to really use this week's defeat and the extra weeks training to really get the A game going and come away with the points.