MATCH REPORT

JO, NOT SO BLAND! Jo Bland scored a brilliant second half winner to overcome neighbours and league leaders Spalding at the top of the ENW 2 league. Great hockey was served up by both sides and the game was played at an incredible pace, and was a testimony to the sport in South Lincolnshire. Long Sutton Ladies showing the extra will and the want to edge the result after a thrilling encounter! Spalding pushed back to get the game started but were soon under pressure from Sutton, Sutton had the early advantage in possession but failed to create any significant threat. On nine minutes, Spalding broke well but their attack was disrupted by Leah Goodley and Bland. Spalding continued to press forward and it was not too long before Sutton's keeper Lorraine Wallis was tested, making a great block and clearance from her right boot. Spalding were edging the game and winning several short corners which however came to nothing. On 20 minutes and from a further short corner Spalding failed again, but the ball being cleared fell for Sutton to Jess Hudson midway inside the Sutton half, Hudson carried the ball for a few meters, before sending a smart crisp pass to Lyn Tancerd and Tancred quickly and accurately placed the ball to Leanne Woodhead, with the Spalding defence opened up with the precision of a surgeons knife! it required Woodhead to drift with ball on stick, left to right across the home D, drawing the Spalding keeper and when it looked like Woodhead was going to run out of road! Woodhead fired a great shot from an ever decreasing angle firmly into the Spalding goal. A great goal and perfect tonic for the visitors Sutton. Goodley soon after and from a very determined run, fired just wide. Tancred, Goodley and Woodhead had further efforts which went close before Spalding won two back to back short corners, and on 26 minutes Spalding found their mark. The ball was received well, passed out to Mablethorpe on the right who swerved towards the center to fire past Wallis in the Sutton goal, to level the scores one each. Sutton responded well, and Woodhead was very unlucky with a great strike that struck the left hand post of the Spalding goal, but with the rebound unfortunately falling unkindly for Bland, who was like a hungry predator following in. Spalding continued to break and with speed but Rachael Gadsden, who might be expected now to show a slightly slower pace! but somehow Gadsden found the speed of Bolt to intercept and clear up an otherwise great scoring opportunity for Spalding. Louise Southgate had a very good half and again showed great speed and determination to match the fast and energetic breaks of a youthful Spalding attacking line up. The second half started with the sides evenly matched and scores equal over the first 35 minutes, but it would be Spalding who started the smarter, often testing and teasing the Sutton back line of Gadsden, Tania White and Lisa Baker with Gemma Parr continuing to play central and higher to very effectively limit the Spalding attacks. Goodley was making frequent determined runs for Sutton and on one venture held off four challenges before shooting narrowly wide. Eight minutes into the second half and Spalding had won a short corner, the resulting effort was beaten away well by keeper Wallis. Wallis had to be sharp again and pulled off a fine save to keep the scores level, before the Spalding keeper was also called upon to make a good stop from Tancred. Charlee Leuty was everywhere in midfield and 12 minutes into the half robbed a Spalding attack to carry the ball 10 meters, before passing firmly to Woodhead, however the finely struck pass just escaped the reach of Woodhead. Tancred again went close with a shot narrowly wide. Long Sutton were enjoying this spell and were rewarded on 18 minutes of the second period, by winning a short corner. Baker injected to Goodley who switched the ball right to Bland and Bland took the ball forward, before neatly lifting her shot over the advancing keeper, to give Long Sutton a well deserved lead. 5 minutes later Bland went close again, this time weaving through the Spalding defence, but her strike was beaten away well by the Spalding keeper. Baker and Gadsden were supporting attacks well keeping the play firmly in the Spalding half. As the clock ticked on, of course Spalding would not leave it at that! on 26 minutes Spalding won a short corner which needed the ever dependable Tania White to steer the ball away from the Sutton goal line. Over the remaining minutes of the game Spalding came bursting forward desperately trying to salvage a point, but the combination of staunch defending, sound goalkeeping and tireless work from midfield, would ensure the game played out to a "GREAT" Sutton away victory! and thus moving them to top of the league, with Spalding dropping one place to second. Player of the match for Sutton was the winning goal scorer and dynamic throughout - Jo Bland. Early days still, but it appears this Sutton side may well have what it takes to challenge strongly for top spot, however, they have experience enough to not take anything for granted and such is the spirit in the Ladies section this season. Sutton Ladies 1sts are at home next Saturday to St Neots.