MATCH REPORT

With Storm Brian making its way across the Country, Long Sutton were making their way in the same arduous manner up the A52 to Skegness Grammar School for this Division 2 NW match up. A bright autumnal day greeted us and the wind was beginning to blow as all amateur and professional weather forecasters had predicted. Gambling on the thought process that the wind would get stronger Long Sutton decided to play against it in the first half, so with the toss confirmed the game started and immediately the home side were out of the blocks. Sutton were slow to process the ball, spent too much time extricating themselves from their own 25yrd area and this gave Alford the momentum to force us backwards. The first 10 minutes Alford controlled, however Long Sutton were playing themselves into the game and it wasn't long before a long through ball found Lyn Tancred whose foray into the D was met with a shove in the back as she was about to strike for goal. The decision of a penalty corner was slightly puzzling when a flick was the more likely outcome, but nevertheless it gave Sutton an opportunity which unfortunately came to nothing. Soon however, Alford made the early pressure count when they were quicker to react to a second phase ball from Sutton Keeper Lorraine Wallis and the ball trickled past defenders and into the net. This seemed to galvanise Long Sutton who effectively went straight down the other end securing another penalty corner. Lisa Baker hit out, Connie Gittins stick stopped and Tancred cleanly hit the strike past the Alford keeper's right foot and into the backboard. From there Alford created another chance which was met by Wallis flinging herself to her left to push the ball round the post. Outstanding by the Sutton keeper and a save that was roundly met with the clicking of cameras! Again the ball was hit long by Sutton as they struggled into the wind and this time it found Leah Goodley in the D who in the act of shooting was shoved in the back. Again another penalty corner where a flick would have been the correct call perhaps. This time Alford defended the corner well. Half time came with the game tied at 1-1. There were a couple of tweaks needed to the Long Sutton approach but with the wind behind us in the second half everyone was positive about the outcome. The second half was indeed a better half for Long Sutton, some of the passing and movement was outstanding. Emmie Gittins, Charlie Leuty, skipper Jo Bland and Louise Southgate were instrumental in putting Sutton on the front foot. In fact it was slightly against the run of play that Alford, now reliant on the long ball, achieved a penalty corner. From the resultant corner the ball was slipped right and a shot placed across Wallis into the far corner. A nicely finished move but one in which Long Sutton assisted by standing off and not closing down the slipped ball. Despite being the better team Sutton were now behind. However, this season Sutton are made of stronger stuff and not being beaten was etched into the face of the ladies. Once again good work from Bland and Tancred and the ball was crossed to Goodley who made no mistake from close range slotting the ball past the stranded Alford keeper. Then more good work down the right wing and the ball came to Southgate in the Alford D who expertly drew the keeper and slotted Tancred in for her second goal of the game. Sutton now 3-2 up. By this time the Long Sutton defence of Amber Jones, Lauren Cooper, Tania White and Baker ably marshalled by Gemma Parr really had Alford under control. But then like the biting wind from nowhere Alford hit a raised hopeful ball into the D very quickly. It found their striker who controlled and hit the ball which Wallis parried, unfortunately it went straight back to the striker who finished to tie the game up at 3-3. Short corners continued at both ends to no avail, then on one such Alford attack the ball sprung lose to Emmie Gittins just inside her own half. She sped forward whilst under pressure and played a lovely pass through to Tancred who had moved beyond the last defender. Through on goal one on one with the keeper the game was there for Tancred and Sutton. Into the D, drawing the keeper and slotting the perfect shot past the keepers right boot to give the lead to Sutton. That last goal was under a minute from time. Soon the whistle had gone and Long Sutton had run out winners making the journey home a good one. This is one of the best starts to the season for a number of years for the Long Sutton ladies and there is no co incidence that the arrival of Neil Evans in the summer as coach has played a vital part. The midweek training undertaken has been a different level and the ladies are learning from it. In fact from Neil, skipper Jo Bland and game day Manager Lawrie Sullivan the holy trinity are showing signs of creating the best environment for the ladies to be able to develop, learn and express themselves. Something is being built and with the time and investment put in, the ladies are determined to show on the pitch the positives being undertaken. Next week we are back at Peele School where we have a 1pm pushback against Cambridge University 2's.