MATCH REPORT

Buoyed by a great team performance last week, despite not getting the result, Long Sutton Ladies went into this local derby full of confidence and the start of the game showed that confidence. From the pushback, Sutton moved the ball upfield quickly and won the first short corner of the game. The initial strike was well saved by the Spalding GK but Connie Gittins was on hand to slam in the rebound with more of a cricket shot than a hockey shot. The jubilation did not last long though as the goal was correctly ruled out by the umpires as the initial shot was too high. Spalding slowly began to get more of a foothold in the game but great work from the Sutton defence of Jess Burton, Tania White, Maisie Sullivan and Lauren Cooper meant that the game was mainly being played in midfield with very little for either keeper to get too excited about. Great movement from the mid-field of Jemima Dodd, Jo Bland, Emmy Gittins and the versatile Rhian Goodge caused the Spalding defence to be on high alert but the final pass would just not quite fall correctly, for forwards Amber Jones and Connie Gittins to be able to make the break-through. Halftime came with the score deadlocked at 0-0. The second half continued in much the same vein, with both sides lacking that killer pass and with the ever-reliable Tania White keeping previous Sutton player Lyn Sullivan quiet it looked as if the game would end goalless. However, with Gemma Parr forced from the field with an injury gained from last week's game, Sutton's communication was lacking a little and a quick ball from Spalding found a player unmarked in the circle and with Sutton Keeper Lorraine Wallis committed to ground the ball found it's way into the net. A bitter pill to swallow but with time running out Sutton threw the kitchen sink at Spalding and despite a mammoth effort with every single player giving their all, it was not to be. The final attack being cleared off the line, albeit with a possible foot, although to be fair to the umpires it was difficult to see in the low Autumn sunshine. We pick ourselves up, continue to play the hockey the way we know we can and go again next week, against Cambridge Nomads who find themselves in the higher regions of the division. Player of the match went to Jess Burton, returning to the ones, giving a gritty, assured performance against more experienced players.