MATCH REPORT

Long Sutton Ladies 2's, facing an injury crisis, travelled to Kettering 4's with the bare 11. With a leave time of silly O' clock, they travelled through thick fog and arrived in beautiful sunshine, to find an opposition squad of 14! It was going to be tough, but this Long Sutton Ladies 2's are a resilient bunch and hard working. The game started with Kettering on the attack and the Sutton defence of Rachael Gadsden, (who knew that she had not picked up a stick for a while), Claire Sisson and Lucy Smith with Gemma Parr, in front, often found themselves out-numbered, but they defended resolutely, and anything that did find it's way trough was mopped up by Lorraine Wallis in goal. Sutton did settle and the game was being played at a decent pace and was end to end. Jasmine Smith, belying her small stature, was tenacious in the tackle and ran at the Kettering defence ably supported by Esme Whitelam and Penny Perowne , (again who would have known that this was her first game in a while). Sutton won a number of short corners but were unable to convert and the half finished goalless.

The half-time team talk was buoyant, with a reminder, that with 11 players, the ball needed to do the work, and Sutton came out for the second half determined that they deserved something from the game. They set about the task and with the ever-willing running of Florence Perowne and Amelia Norey, they were able to push Kettering back. Wendy Canham was tracking back in search of possession and Sutton were able to win a number of short corners (more than Kettering, despite them having more possession). From one short corner, won when Esme Whitelam was unceremoniously wiped out, Sutton moved the ball well, the ball found it's way to Wendy Canham who slotted the ball beyond the Kettering keeper, however just a fraction of a second after the umpire had blown to award a further short corner. The resultant short corner unfortunately came to nothing and Sutton could think themselves hard done by, however on the balance of play it would have been harsh on Kettering and a draw was probably a fair result. Another clean sheet and another hard- fought point gained from this team which is loving the challenge set by the re-structured leagues.

Player of the match votes were shared out across the team, which showed what a great team effort it had been, however the narrow winner was Gemma Parr for her solidity in defence and knack of always being in the right place at the right time.