MATCH REPORT

The rain stayed away as Long Sutton kicked off the second half of the season with a home fixture against Pelicans. A bright, crisp cold day the sort of day you needed to warm up properly for fear of pulling muscles. If the game was going to be anything like the first meeting earlier in the season then it was going to be a tight affair. That first game was won 1-0 by Sutton, but with both teams improving as the season has progressed another tight affair was the forecast. As the game started Long Sutton got into their stride with some crisp movement and running, but Pelicans had equally worked on the game and they set up to press the home side around about the half way line. Long Sutton looked good for two thirds of the pitch but seemingly lacked a spark in the opponents third. That final ball just wasn't what it could have been and despite space around the opponents D there was very little in good clear chances despite the running of Lyn Tancred and Leah Goodley. The wide Sutton players of Connie and Emmie Gittins together with Louise Southgate had intermittent spells in the game but the home side did not use the width as well as they could have done. Sutton were not playing badly but Pelicans were well organised and with the missing spark despite all the good running most chances came to nothing. When Tancred did get to the baseline in receipt of the ball Sutton were not able to cash in as runners into the D were unable to get on the end of the pass. When Sutton did get the reward of a penalty corner and in this game they got 7 in total, the Pelicans keeper was expert at using her feet to repel the ball and Sutton were unable to react to the rebounds as they would have liked. Skipper Jo Bland and Charlie Leuty were running the game but that final pass wasn't always there. In defence Tania White, Lauren Cooper, Lisa Baker, Amber Jones admirably led by Gemma Parr and keeper Lorraine Wallis were immense. They had the answer for anything Pelicans had and on the day No penalty corners conceded was testament to a great defensive plan. This pattern of play continued through half time and well into the second period. The Sutton defence were in control and the Sutton final third play lacked a spark. Then with 16 mins to play Pelicans got a breakthrough, some would say against the run of play. A crisp shot in the D was saved to her right by Wallis but unfortunately the ball rebounded out and the Pelicans player was first there to steer the ball back past Wallis and into the net to give the away side the lead. Long Sutton tried to step up a gear, tweaked formation and really put their opponents under pressure but despite forays into the D and penalty corners the Pelicans next stayed intact, that was until the final play of the game when a ball down the right found Tancred in the D. Somehow she got her shot off and continued her run off the pitch. Despite the despairing efforts of the Pelicans defender the ball went over the line as she tried to clear it however had she done so Southgate was on hand and would have scored if needed. With that the scores were level and the final whistle went. A disappointing result for the home side as they were looking for 3 points, however, the perseverance and never give up attitude got Long Sutton something out of the game, which they deserved. Next week another home fixture and another tight one as Sutton take on Cambridge South. Earlier in the season the first game finished 1-1 so another tight affair is forecast. Push back at Peele School 1pm.