MATCH REPORT

Long Sutton travelled to St Neots on Saturday for their first game after the Christmas and New Year Festivities. As this was against a development team, it was a free game. A pre-second half of the season friendly, as no points were on offer. The opposition, whilst a development team did not seem to have too many of the development players that this game is supposed to be about, however Sutton were pleased to be back up and running. The game started and St Neots attacked Sutton from the off, seemingly more at home on the slippery carpet than Long Sutton. The defence of Julie Warby, Emma Grosvenor, Sarah Skate and Georgina Synnott were every bit of a match for the opponents, in particular Emma Grosvenor who was exemplary throughout. Goalkeeper Ellie Sandal was virtually a spectator, however orchestrated her defence well, being very vocal whilst confidently leaving a number of balls fired in from outside of the D. Sutton soon got used to the surface and began to take the game to St Neots, Katie Whittaker having a fine game in the centre of midfield. Always ready to receive the ball and find her midfield team mates of Lillie Tegerdine, also growing in confidence, in front of her travelling supporters, and Pippa Naylor who having already featured for the ones earlier, showed no signs of fatigue. Sutton were up for this and with Annabelle Giles (also having featured for the ones) was full of running and a number of forward runs found the ball just the wrong side of the post and out of reach of Alison Whittaker and Chantil Sinclair to tap home for what would have been a deserved goal. With neither side being able to find the elusive breakthrough the half finished goalless. 

St Neots made a few changes at half time and attacked Sutton again, but Sutton played well and repelled anything that St Neots could throw at them. Every player demanding of the ball (which shows the improvements made of this young team) and the half ebbed and flowed. Sutton continued to play wonderful hockey but were just not able to find the breakthrough. With the game coming to an end, it looked as if it would finish goalless (a mirror of the first team result just before) and a draw would have been fair on both teams. However, with Sutton having attacked, St Neots broke and won a free hit just outside of the D. It was a dubious call as to whether the ball had travelled five, before being fired across the D, Sutton found themselves outnumbered at the back and the ball was slotted home to make it 1-0. A cruel end to a great first game back. Sutton can however take many positives from the game though, knowing that the league leaders await them next week!

Player of the match was awarded to Katie Whittaker. Deservedly so for playing a wonderful game at centre mid.