MATCH REPORT

Long Sutton Ladies faced league leaders Cambs South on Saturday after a mixed bag of results over the two games last weekend, a 3-0 win and a 3-0 loss. Cambs South came to Sutton, having swept all opposition aside without dropping points. They may have come expecting an easy victory, however they had not taken into account the improvement in the Sutton team since their 4-0 victory earlier in the season. As expected Cambs South came out of the blocks quickly but the defence of Cooper, Sullivan, White and Burton, with Parr in front held firm. The midfield of Dodd, Gittins (E) and Collingwood-Smith were working extremely hard to get at South and not give them time on the ball, with forwards Baker and Gittins (C) chasing hard to try to move the game further up the pitch. South won numerous short corners but never really threatened with Sullivan running one magnificently to not give them time to get their routines done. With one sub Sutton were able to ensure that they could give everything and when Baker senior came on, Burton was pushed further forward to give South something a little different to think about. Half-time came with the score at 0-0, Sutton having worked extremely hard, the breather welcome. The half-time talk was of a half court press to allow South to have the ball in their 25 as they couldn't punish Sutton there with more of the same grit, determination and battling spirit to continue. To a man Sutton continued to work extremely hard in the second half, but were again pushed back. South continued to win short corners and up stepped a drag-flicker to try her luck at making the breakthrough, but anything that beat the resolute Sutton defence found an even more resolute keeper in Wallis. With a break in play due to an injury to a South player, with ten minutes to go, Sutton decided to leave a high forward in Baker Junior with the thoughts of a smash and grab to take all 3 points, however South had their own ideas and won a short corner on the final whistle. One last chance to keep their 100% record. However Sutton were in no mood to allow this to happen and defended stoutly to see the game out and become the first team to take a point off the league leaders. Any one of Sutton's players could have been named player of the match but the award went to Wallis in goal.