MATCH REPORT

So after last week's monumental effort, we travelled to St Ives 1's who have only lost to Peterborough 2's. We knew that it would be an uphill battle and backs to the wall stuff. However, whilst the score may not have been what we wanted, the performance was as good if not better than last week. St Ives started off on the front foot and forced 6 short corners in the first 10 minutes. The Sutton defense stood firm and started to get a foothold in the game which was being played at a blistering pace and with great intensity. A rotating midfield of Jo Bland, Rhian Goodge, Emmy Gittins and Jemima Dodd began to establish themselves in the game and we forced a couple of short corners ourselves. Rhian Goodge and Jemima Dodd ran with purpose and directness and forced St Ives to turn on their heals and defend. However, on 25 minutes, a poor pass out from the Sutton defense was picked up by the St Ives forward who drove into the D and beyond the stretching Lorraine Wallis. Rather than feel deflated, Long Sutton used this to spur them on and forced St Ives into some lunging tackles. The game continued at an exhausting pace and with 4 minutes left in the first half, Amber Jones pounced on some indecision in the St Ives defense to drive through and lift the ball on her reverse stick over the diving keeper. Gemma Parr was forced off with cramp as she found the pace hard but the duo of Jo Bland and Gemma in midfield, Long Sutton were showing St Ives that this would not be a game for easy points. After a team talk and drink at half time, the game restarted with St Ives wanting to put the game to bed. A St Ives short corner breakdown led to an attack constantly hitting the ball into Lorraine Wallis. Eventually one of these found its way past her into the goal. Almost immediately from the restart, St Ives forced another short corner and the first time shot nutmegged Lorraine Wallis. Again, it would have been easy for the Long Sutton team to give in and accept defeat however this only drove them on. With 20 minutes left, Sutton created sustained pressure on the St Ives defense but couldn't get a goal back however, when Connie Gittins intercepted the ball in her own half, there was only one result. She drove straight for the goal, beating 4 experienced St Ives players before calmly slotting the ball between keeper and post. With Gemma Parr suffering from cramp again and Jo Bland leaving everything on the pitch, the game was ramping up even further. Chances at either end were snuffed out by the goalkeepers and St Ives showed their experience by slowing the game down as much as possible. Sutton continued to throw everything at St Ives but just couldn't find the equalizer. Tania White stood strong and tackled with gusto all game. She led her defense by example and swept up everything that came her way. Her intercepting led to many quick breaks and along with Gemma Parr showed that keeping low in the tackle is often rewarded with the ball. Another game where the result wasn't what was wanted but the performance was undoubtedly one of the best. Again, this team showed great character with the experience of Lorraine Wallis, Tania White, Jo Bland and Gemma Parr linking well with the youth to provide a mix of skill and speed which can be hard to cope with. On to the local derby with Spalding next week and hopefully back to winning ways although Spalding will be hoping to upset the applecart with a win of their own. MOM: Tania White & Emmy Gittins