MATCH REPORT

GREAT GAME, GREAT CONTEST - BUT SUTTON LADIES FALL SLIGHTLY SHORT. This was a quality fixture, played at a very fast pace with Sutton narrowly losing out. The league is tight, and the thinnest of margins matter. As of tonight, the top eight sides are split by only five points and with Sutton siting bang in the midst of that differential. Player of the match for Cambs City was chosen by them, as their goalkeeper Millie Smith, which somewhat describes the quality that Sutton served up and the result may well have been different had it not been for the string of saves that the Cambs keeper pulled off. Cambs City started well, and on five minutes Sutton's goal keeper Lorraine Wallis was bought into action, booting away a good effort. At the other end Jess Hudson and Leah Goodley had worked some good space and Charlee Leuty went close. Soon after and Lyn Tancred almost scored for Sutton. Emmy GIttins was introduced to the action on twelve minutes, and soon sent a great pass looking for Leanne Woodhead, however the pass slightly over run the charging Woodhead. On 16 minutes Wallis pulled off a fine save to keep Cambridge out. Four minutes later Sutton attacked and created their best chance of the half, Woodhead found space and fired a neat pass to Lyn Tancred, who fired a shot that was well saved by Smith in the Cambs goal, however, the keepers intervention only cleared the ball to Connie Gittins who struck the post with her effort. This fired Sutton up, and they hit a purple patch through to half time and with Woodhead forcing another fine save out of the in-form Cambs keeper. Ten minutes of the half remaining and both sides shared a spate of short corners, but both defences were in a defiant mood! to keep the game scoreless at half time. Two minutes into the second half and Cambs City almost took the lead with a sharp cross just missing a stick at the far post. Sutton responded from the let-off and Woodhead and Tancred almost converted from two half chances each, and Hudson too found a good position but could not apply the finishing touch. With chances coming fast and furious at both ends, and with both keepers in outstanding form, it began to feel like a no scoring draw would be the outcome. However, 12 minutes into the second half and Cambs City made the breakthrough. A smart move finding Jules Smythe at the far post to force the ball rather fortunately into the Sutton goal. Sutton came straight back and Rachael Gadsden had a drive down the right side to just miss out. Lisa Baker was active on the left side with the left full back surging forward trying to create the breakthrough. Baker soon found Woodhead, who again put Tancred in, but the one on one charge down on the visiting keeper, was very well blocked. At the other end, Wallis pulled off a stunning save to keep Sutton's hopes alive. Leuty, Hudson, Jo Bland and Leah Goodley were working overtime in midfield to try and rescue something from the game. However, the task was sadly going to get even harder, when Cambs City extended their lead through a well worked goal, finely finished by Laurel Tully. Sutton lifted their heads and created further chances, but the Cambs defence and Keeper remained solid until four minutes to go when Sutton managed to claw a goal back, through an excellent finish from Tancred, to provide hope and a nervy last four minutes - but, sadly for Sutton, Cambs City defended their goal well through the dying moments, to leave with all three points. Sutton had several candidates for player of the match, with Gemma Parr and Tania White outstanding at the heart of defence, Jo Bland was a candidate for her work rate in midfield, and Lyn Tancred had made great positions all game, and scored a cracking goal in the final moments. However, the Player of the match award and for the second week in a row, rightly went to Charlee Leuty, who had another very good game. Next Saturday Sutton Ladies 1 sts travel to Skegness to face table topping Alford & District, but with a win then Sutton stay right in the mix at the top end of the table.