MATCH REPORT

TANC'S - TWO LYN FOR LAST ACTION EQUALISER! Long Sutton Ladies first team needed a last seconds, second goal to level a cracking game. Sutton took the initiative in the first two minutes through Louise Southgate, Royston scored two in reply and with their second coming on the stroke of half time, and so for Lyn Tancred to score in the dying moments of the second half balanced the account! earning a well fought and richly deserved away point for Sutton. On a day when twins Connie and Emmie Gittins would make their debut playing together at first team league level, and surely a highly competitive game looked likely with both teams getting their season off to a promising start. Long Sutton raced straight out of the blocks and on two minutes went ahead, Jess Hudson broke on the right of midfield passing the ball neatly to Leah Goodley who crossed with pin point accuracy to Louise Southgate, Southgate having worked into a perfect position in front of goal to slot the ball home for one up Sutton. Sutton continued to threaten over the first 10 minutes but then Royston started to work things out, beginning to disrupt Sutton's pattern of play and breaking well from defence they looked quick and menacing through midfield and in attack. Increasingly Sutton were hanging on, Jo Bland did brilliant to snuff out a very good Royston attempt on goal and keeper Lorraine Wallis was called upon on several occasions to keep Royston out. The defence of Rachael Gadsden, Tania White, Gemma Parr and Lisa Baker were staunch as ever leaving little to chance. However Royston were racking up the penalty corners and forced two fine blocks from Wallis before with a degree of inevitability Royston equalised eight minutes before half time, from a well worked short corner Royston's Sarah Warren tucked away neatly, giving Wallis no chance. Sutton stepped up again from the restart with another good link between Goodley and Hudson providing a decent opportunity for Tancred to restore the lead, but the goal chance was snuffed out by the Royston keeper. Royston continued to dominate the closing period of the first half and they snatched a goal right on half time again from a short and again netted by Warren. Sutton had to put the disappointment aside at half time and needed to come out for the second half in even more determined mood. They did, but within two minutes Royston had won a short corner from which Tania White was needed on the line to block, and then very smartly move the ball away from danger. Five minutes into the second half and Sutton won a short corner with Baker's effort going close and being blocked just in front of goal. Sutton were looking the fitter and stronger side and forced their own back to back sequence of shorts, Hudson had a good effort, Woodhead and Tancred went close but Royston were quick out at the ball and strong on the line to protect their goal. Goodley made good space often and from one piecing run across the D Goodley hit on the reverse stick, but her well struck effort was high of the Royston goal. Tancred had two great chances and runs at goal but both were dealt with by the Royston defence and keeper. So with time running out Sutton's tremendous dominance of the second half was looking to no avail; however, the never give up spirit in the team would create one last mighty moment! Sutton won a short corner, but with restart time still on the clock, it was therefore not an exact end of the game short...... Baker injected, Goodley received, and Tancred struck firmly, but against a Royston stick that forced the ball high and over the keeper and defenders in to the Royston goal and back board - for a richly deserved and even up of the fate that befell Sutton on the stroke of half time. So with the restart being a formality the spoils were shared. What a dramatic finish to a game of ebb and flow, which was a credit to both teams. Royston the better in the first half, and Sutton the force in the second. Player of the match for Long Sutton was Tania White who was outstanding in a team of near equals.