MATCH REPORT

SUTTON LET SLIP!  Long Sutton Ladies 1sts made hard work of lower placed Cambs Uni 3rds, letting slip a 2 nil comfortable half time lead, by conceding two careless goals in the last quarter of the match. Like most Uni sides the start of a season is troubled integrating new acquaintances, and this appeared to be a side developing with good players, that are beginning shake off the newness! playing a better quality than their league position supports, and for that they deserved the draw for their perseverance. Sutton started well but the early exchanges were fairly equal, on eight minutes the first real chance fell to Cambs Uni but Sutton keeper Lorraine Wallis cleared with her right boot to concede a long corner, which came to nothing. Soon after, on ten minutes, Sutton took the lead. Charlee Leuty collected the ball from some good work down the right by Leah Goodley, Leuty then switched play across goal finding center forward Lyn Tancred who had found clear space to tap in from close range. Sutton failed to press on from the early advantage and allowing Cambs Uni to express themselves too easily. Wallis was required on a couple more occasions and the back four of Rachael Gadsden, Tania White, Gemma Parr and Lisa Baker were being tested and the midfield at times over run by an energetic attacking line. With ten minutes of the first half left Sutton started to look their place in the league and Connie Gittins having received a smart pass from Emmie Gittins went close. A minute later and the combination almost worked again with Connie Gittins having another good effort thwarted. The pressure was heaping up on Uni and on 32 minutes from a quickly taken free hit, Leuty found Jess Hudson on the left, who passed the ball to the stick of Tancred, who fired across goal finding Connie Gittins who smartly steered the ball past the helpless Uni keeper, for 2 nil to Sutton. Sutton might have been expected to ease past Cambs Uni in the second half but the Uni side had a different script! Tancred had a couple of half chances and Louise Southgate made good progress down the right and twice made great passes into the Uni D but to no avail. Goodley worked hard and Jo Bland applied pressure winning another short corner, but which came to nothing. Seconds later Bland was back defending clearing a goal bound effort from a Cambs Uni short corner. With 16 minutes remaining Sutton conceded from a break down the centre left, with a pass picking out Rachael Roberts who was unmarked to the center right of the goal, to fire past the sprawling Wallis thus narrowing Suttons lead to a nervy one goal. Sutton had a great chance to quickly restore the two goal advantage when Leanne Woodhead broke brilliantly and made a fine pass to Tancred who missed out one on one with the Uni keeper. Cambridge Uni from the let off, sensed they could get a result, and they went for it! However it took an uncharacteristic error of judgement by Wallis in the Sutton goal, who from a hard hit and hope punt from the Cambs Uni midfield, instead of letting the ball roll harmlessly over the goal line, Wallis eager to speed the game kicked back. Sadly the firmly hit kick, went back the same direction and distance as the hit and hope had come from. Still though with much to do, but after a quick collection, Uni surged forward and Hannah Roberts being on hand to fire home, to bring Cambridge Uni level.. Both sides had further chances, and both sides throughout the game had numerous short corners that failed to convert. However the draw turned out a fair reflection of the game. Other results meant Sutton remain joint second and level with Spalding. Player of the match for Sutton was Charlee Leuty. Who worked tirelessly throughout and having a hand in both Sutton goals. Next week Sutton look to bounce back at home against Cambridge City.