MATCH REPORT

The weather had relented and Long Sutton were able to get their season back going at home after the Christmas break. This week we welcomed Royston Ladies to the Peele School. Last week's creditable draw against Peterborough would have got the cobwebs out of the system from Christmas and now there was a chance to hone the skills and gain more points, although it was going to be a tough fixture against a well drilled Royston team. Long Sutton pushed back and right from the first whistle began to play some exciting hockey. The tempo was quick, the passing crisp and Sutton were really causing problems to the opposition. The brand of hockey being played was some of the very best the Ladies of Long Sutton had produced in a very long time and it wasn't long before they got their success in front of goal. A penalty corner wasn't cleared by Royston and a misdirected shot by Lyn Tancred was expertly directed into the net by Lisa Baker to give the home side a deserved lead. It seemed like only minutes before the lead was doubled. A crisp pass by defender Tania White from her 22 line was picked up by Leah Goodley. Tancred ran the perfect channel and took two defenders with her to allow Goodley a free run on goal and she coolly wrong footed the keeper and put the home side in total control. More chances were being created as Long Sutton continued their momentum, with the back 4 of Rachael Gadsden, Tania White and Lisa Baker together with keeper Lorraine Wallis looking in full control at the back. Great width plat by Jo Bland and Louise Southgate continued to press forward and the hard work of the 2 central midfielders of Charlie Leuty and Goodley forced Royston back time and time again. In fact it was a disappointment that half time came but confidence was high and with the break over with and 35 minutes left on the clock there was only going to be one winner. False words indeed. Within 6 minutes of the restart Royston had pulled level. Royston knew they had to do something and they threw caution to the wind and pressed hard. Long Sutton probably were a tad complacent and were caught cold when a break on the right led to Royston having a free player at the back post to tap over the line. That should have galvanised Long Sutton but unfortunately a break almost immediately again down the right led to a cross which was unluckily deflected high across the D and found its way again to an unmarked player at the back post. 29 minutes left on the clock and the home side had to start again. Pressing forward Long Sutton started to get back to somewhere near the levels of the first half. Chances were create with Woodhead and Southgate going close to extend the lead and to be fair to Royston they were using the fast break well to cause their own problems. Wallis saving beautifully on one such break from a one on one. Composure had been regained by Sutton and another clean break saw Goodley running towards goal and she slipped the ball right to Woodhead to fire the home side back in the lead. Chances continued at both ends and with 9 minutes left Royston won a penalty corner. Unfortunately for Sutton their well worked corner routine of slipping right and hitting the injector post wasn't dealt with and there was the Royston player to put over the line despite the efforts of keeper Wallis. With time running out Long Sutton continued to press but despite spending the last 2 minutes in the opponent's D time ran out and a draw was the result. There is still everything to play for in the league as other results helped Long Sutton out. Whilst we slip to 4th place we remain 2 points behind the second promotion place. Unfortunately too many draws have knocked us, but with 8 games left the outcome of the league in in our hands. We must eradicate the draws and get back to winning ways and we can start this again this week as we travel to Cambridge Nomads for an 1130 pushback. Player of the day was Gemma Parr