MATCH REPORT

Sutton suffered their first defeat since 27th November 2021, but came away from St Neots with their heads held high. It is testament to this team that they are meeting stronger opposition in the second half of the season, having become a team that the opposition want to beat, and it was a very strong St Neots side that lined up against them yesterday. Although Sutton started with the pushback, St Neots quickly stamped their authority on the game and drove Sutton back. It was a baptism of fire for Emma Grosvenor in her first game back after a long lay-off but it was like she had never been away. The defence of Julie Skate, Claire Sisson and George Synnott have grown as a unit as the season has gone on and they were working hard to ensure that St Neots could not get past but St Neots were attacking in numbers and it wasn't long before they managed to find a breakthrough, with keeper Wallis making an initial clearance but only to an oncoming attacker who was able to slot the ball home. Could Wallis have done better? Yes! However Sutton were not deterred and they continued to battle hard, Lucy Smith in her new familiar position of right-mid, popping up everywhere that was required, ably assisted by her versatile daughter who was back on pitch and working her socks off. Penny Perowne her usual busy self, driving hard along the left side and working with her daughter Florence, who again showed no fear, attacking against experienced ladies, making some intelligent runs and carrying the ball well. Wendy Canham up front, continued to take up some great positions and was tracking back to put the St Neots defence under pressure, Esme Whitelam working hard on the right to keep the St Neots defence on their guard. St Neots were very quick on the break, however, and whenever possession was lost by Sutton they were attacking in numbers. Sutton used their squad to the maximum though, with the fresh legs of Sarah Skate and Aimee Betts coming on to ensure that the tempo did not drop. Sutton did well to earn short corners but they were not able to find the equaliser and the half finished 1-0.

Sutton came out for the second half in determined mood and whilst St Neots continued to put them under pressure, they worked hard as a team and were again able to earn further short corners. It was from one short corner that the well -deserved equaliser came. The ball being injected to Wendy Canham who got a shot off, and whilst this was defended well, the ball found it's way back to Emma Grosvenor who made no mistake, Jasmine Smith making a run across the GK to ensure that she was unsighted. 1-1 and nothing less than Sutton deserved. Sutton were undone again though, from a free hit of their own, which was intercepted by a St Neots forward (probably not the required 5m away) and Sutton were outnumbered in defence, Wallis tried to close the marauding winger down but the ball was played across the D for an easy tap-in. Sutton continued to battle hard, and suffered a set back when Penny Perowne had to go off injured. With time running out they threw caution to the wind sending the whole team forward in search of an equaliser, but it just wouldn't come and the game finished 2-1 to the hosts.

Player of the match went to Emma Grosvenor for her impressive performance after such a long lay-off. Welcome back Emma!