MATCH REPORT

On a warm day in Glinton, Long Sutton arrived to face Bourne Deeping in a match that had a lot at stake for both teams. Bourne Deeping needed a win to secure their status in Division 2 whereas Long Sutton needed a win and hope that Cambridge City lost in their final match in order to make next week's final fixture versus Newmarket a winner take all affair for the final promotion place. Long Sutton started the brighter and took the game to Bourne Deeping but the weather and perhaps the fear of what they were playing for slowed them down. Bourne Deeping got their game together and started to create opportunities for themselves. They created a series of penalty corners but found the defence of Rachael Gadsden, Tanya White, Jo Bland and Lisa Baker in fine form with the ever dependable Lorraine Wallis in goal once again exceptional. One particular save by Wallis plunging to her left post demonstrated not only quick feet but superb agility also. The game was end to end but Sutton just could not find the final pass and this gave Bourne confidence. Long Sutton conceded a further penalty corner which was well worked with a left slip and pass back to the penalty spot for the Bourne striker to coolly place the ball past the despairing Wallis to give the home side the lead. This seemed to spur Long Sutton on and indeed they were lucky when Leanne Woodhead set up by Lyn Tancred was adjudged to have kicked the ball over for what would have been the equaliser. The Bourne Deeping goalkeeper then produced a couple of fine stops to protect their lead and the half time whistle blew. Stirring stuff by skipper Woodhead during the half time team talk seemed to have the desired effect as the second half began. The centre midfield duo of Charlie Leuty and Leah Goodley were working tirelessly whilst Connie Gittins and her sister Emmie along with Louise Southgate provided support from the wings. Even during rotation periods Lauren Cooper ably assisted the defence and all 13 players were working extremely hard to get Long Sutton back on track. A dominating run through the middle by Goodley found skipper Woodhead who drove into the D and drew the keeper before unselfishly slipping the ball left for Tancred to score the equaliser. This galvanised Long Sutton to press but Bourne Deeping had their own agenda on the day. From what seemed like moments from the equaliser Bourne attacked and a superb strike from the right edge of the D flew past keeper Wallis to restore the home sides lead. With the season hanging on the line, Sutton manager Lawrie Sullivan changed formation going 3 at the back and pushing 3 in attack. Within minutes of this approach Sutton gained a short corner and Woodhead's brilliant strike from the top of the D once again drew the match level. Both teams had something on this and both wanted to secure a win. Wallis had a spell soon after where in a space of about 2 minutes her agility and pads were called into action as she repelled all shots as the home team pressed. The crowd were involved and time was running out with a draw no good for either side. Then with under a minute left on the clock Suttons Woodhead picked up the ball in midfield and slipped a glorious pass through to Tancred and she went one on one with the home keeper. Showing her experience she drew the keeper and slipped a shot to the keepers right before she could set herself and then rolled away to celebrate as the ball hit the backboard. Long Sutton had worked hard for this and the win was now on. In fact the game barely had time to restart when the final whistle went and Sutton came out winners. A disappointing result for the home team who lost their Division 2NW status but Long Sutton had kept their dream alive and now all ears would be on the Cambridge result. When it came through Cambridge had lost their final game which meant that next weeks rearranged game at Newmarket became a winner take all for that second promotion spot. 1200 in Newmarket on the1st April for Long Sutton will determine this seasons destiny.