MATCH REPORT

Sutton travelled down the A17 with high hopes having secured a brilliant win against Dereham last week, and knowing that they had beaten Pelicans in an earlier pre-season friendly. However as is so often the case, things don't always go as planned at this ground.

Sutton started brightly enough and took the game to Pelicans but with almost with their first attack Pelicans outnumbered the Sutton defence, and the normally reliable Wallis in goal somehow managed to allow the lone forward to nutmeg her allowing the ball to trickle over the goal-line. 1-0 Pelicans. Sutton did allow heads to drop for a while but slowly began to get themselves back into the game, with the midfield of Jones, Emmy Gittins and Katie Collingwood-Smith using their pace to feed the ball to forwards Baker and Connie Gittins, however they found the Pelicans Keeper in fine form and were unable to convert, despite winning a number of short corners. With the half closing out, things got worse for Sutton, after a bit of a scramble in the D, a fierce shot from a Pelicans player took a wicked deflection from the stick of Baker senior, this time leaving Wallis no chance. Half-time 2-0 Pelicans.

After a positive team talk Sutton came out again with belief that they could get back into the game. Apart from the two goals, the defence of Cooper, White, Sullivan and Baker with Burton in front had kept Pelicans at bay. However a free hit, thought to be awarded to Sutton had in fact been given to Pelicans and they took full advantage of the situation, with a forward driving into the D, and although Wallis made a good save, the ball ricocheted off the shin of Parr and into the goal. A sure sign that this was not to be Sutton's day. The normally unflappable Parr sought confirmation from the umpire about the validity of the free hit but to no avail. Things got worse for Sutton when Sullivan was asked to take visit the naughty corner, but the ten players held firm until she was able to return. To their credit Sutton did not let their heads drop and continued to play their game but again despite winning short corners were just not able to get that elusive goal which would have given Pelicans something to think about. They were awarded a penalty stroke when a goal bound short was stopped by the leg of a Peli's player. New stroke taker, Sullivan confidently stepped forward but whilst her flick was extremely well hit, the accuracy was a little off, with the ball flying high and wide.

So this week it was not to be, but this Sutton side will dust themselves down and look forward to welcoming another local rival, Spalding, to the Peele Leisure Centre next week. Player of the match this week goes to Emmy Gittins for her non-stop energetic running.