MATCH REPORT

Long Sutton arrived in the University City of Cambridge for the return fixture against Cambridge Nomads. It was a bright dry, but cool day and the ladies were looking to get back to winning ways, after the first two fixtures after Christmas led to two draws. Sutton went into the game with a slight change of formation in order to combat some gaps that the opposition had been taking advantage of. A basic 4-4-2 approach with a tweak was the game plan for the day. The game started and for the first 30 minutes was a very tight affair with both teams closing down the opposition with the 2 formations cancelling one another out. There were two or three clear chances for Long Sutton in this period with Leanne Woodhead unfortunately missing two golden opportunities to give Sutton the lead, by skying the ball over the goal on both occasions. Meanwhile the newly formatted Sutton defence were playing with discipline and determination with a great work ethic Rachel Gadsden, Lisa Baker, Tania White and Jo Bland were superb which restricted Nomads to little more than a couple of incursions into the D which Sutton keeper Lorraine Wallis and her trusty right boot dealt with comfortably. As we neared half time the midfield quartet of Sutton, Louise Southgate, Leah Goodley, Charlie Leuty and Connie Gittins, along with the two replacements Emmie Gittins and Jess Hudson began to exert more pressure which brought the two forwards of Woodhead and Lyn Tancred into the game and created opportunities. With little more than a minute to the interval Sutton were awarded and penalty corner. Woodhead's strike found Baker who expertly went round keeper and stuck the ball towards the backboard from very close range. One nil to the away team at halftime. Another tweak to formation at halftime with a view to give Nomads something else to think about galvanised Sutton and with the back four looking solid the away side pressed more and more effectively controlling the game. 10 minutes into the second half again Long Sutton penetrated their opponents D with the ball breaking to Emmie Gittins who's shot at goal was deflected over the line by a Nomad foot. Unfortunately, the Umpire had stopped play and gave Sutton a flick instead of awarding the goal. Up stepped White from the back to place the ball crisply to the keeper's right and Sutton had doubled their lead. This second goal had taken its toll on Nomads and apart for the occasional foray into the Sutton D the away side were in control. Another attack on the left flank saw Southgate lash a shot high towards the goal for skipper Woodhead to divert the ball into the top corner for a 3-0 lead to the away side. That indeed was the end of the scoring as Long Sutton won the game well and conceded no penalty corners to the opposition. A great performance all round and one that keeps Long Sutton in tough at the top of the table only 3 points behind the leaders St Neots with 7 games to go. Next week Long Sutton are at home to local rivals Spalding as they look to maintain their push for honours.