MATCH REPORT

A bright autumnal day saw the Long Sutton Ladies arrive in Kings Lynn ready to clip the wings of the home team. Buoyant from last weeks home win, the Sutton ladies were looking to confirm their best season start for a couple of years. This, as it turned out was an attritional game in patches. Commitment from both sides, some physicality from the home team but interspersed with good passing play from both sides. Long Sutton started well but whilst their passing and movement with the ball was building upon last weeks efforts, when the ball was turned over they lacked their pressing game. This allowed Pelicans a foothold in the game and begun a pattern of end to end hockey. Long Sutton had the best of the first half with player of the match Lyn Tancred making some fine lead runs and going close by with a shot through her legs which narrowly missed the post. The midfield trio of Charlie Leuty, Jo Bland and Leah Goodley were providing some solid support with the wide wingers of the Gittins twins Emmie and Connie providing speed where necessary. As the half progressed Long Sutton were giving Pelicans too much respect and once or twice Lorriane Wallis in the Sutton goal was called into action. There were some difficult calls by the Umpires which led to the home team getting a number of short corners, but once again the drilled defence held solid. No goals at half time. Sutton spoke about getting more aggressive in the right way and stopping Pelicans from pressure moving forward. By now Leuty and Bland were working their socks off and the back four of teenager Jess Burton, Tania White, Gemma Parr and Lauren Cooper were marshalling their opponents well. Amber Jones and Louise Southgate came on from the bench and continued the same drive and commitment and showed the game was really about the 13 person squad. Throughout the second half there came more and more chances at both ends of the pitch primarily from Penalty corners, and whilst Wallis in the Long Sutton goal was worked harder, she dealt with everything that was thrown her way, especially the stretched right foot down by the post from a ball inadvertedly left by the defender at the last minute. In total Pelicans had 9 Penalty corners on the day and Long Sutton defended everyone of them. Long Sutton gained 7 corners from their circle penetrations of 24 but we had to wait until 8 minutes from time for one of them to affect the score. From the said penalty corner a straight strike from Tancred to the goalkeepers right hand post found the backboard to give the Sutton ladies a lead. With some tempers beginning to raise, it was time for cool heads and game management and a lovely through ball once again was met by Tancred who beat a defender took the ball around the keeper to slot home, only for the umpire to whistle and pull play back for a penalty corner to Long Sutton. Baffeling! This occurred 2 minutes from time and whilst Pelicans tried hard in the remaining time the outstanding Sutton defence and indeed team all pulled together to ensure they went home with the points and start the season with 2 wins from 2. Next week an away game at joint leaders Cambridge South where Long Sutton will be looking to continue their impressive start.