MATCH REPORT

FORM IS TEMPORARY, CLASS IS PERMANENT After a run of form that would have got a charismatic Italian relieved of his duties, Long Sutton 1sts welcomed their visitors from the University city to a wet, windy astro far removed from the sunny silicon fen they had left behind. With Cook off piste, Baguley on paternity leave, Featherstone aegrotat and with rumours abounding of much missed club legend Nick Bailey making his well received return to the Green for the 3rds away at Spalding, another two legends, Nick Ellis and Gary Hales were called upon to help stem the flow of poor results. Stand by your phones Pete Worth and Bob Ellis, next week it could be you! From the start it was clear that this Sutton team were not going to go down quietly, Taylor managed his defenders Fox and White expertly, Shore led the line well, Hales and Ellis offered the sort of intelligent smart hockey that is often lacking at club level, Batten and Gavaghan ran for everything and showed skill to go with the pace often seen so important, Cliff in goal continued to show the improvement he makes season on season, Fyson was dominant in the diamond as one would expect from Swedens finest hockey player, Goodley showed touches and skills that can only bode well for the future from a player so young; the entire team turned up and gave the game everything, however there was one undoubted star of the show, Jimmy Harrison put in the sort of performance that had those who have followed Sutton for many years wondering if the real Jimmy had finally been released to play after many months of Saturday afternoon confinement. Sutton pressed early and were soon 2 goals to the good, the hockey displayed was so skilful, quick and intelligent that you could have been excused for thinking they had discarded their traditional green shirts and played in black and white it had been so long since they had combined as a team this well. Two goals became three before half time as Fyson and Shore traded goals therefore the usual half time talk was of avoiding complacency rather than defeat; the second half started and whilst it took some time to regain the same intensity of the first half, Harrison and Ellis ensured the game did not go away from Sutton and the lead was built upon, Shore completing his hat trick from a well worked goal involving all of the Sutton midfield with Goodley providing the perfect assist to Shore's finish, with Hales adding a stunning strike to score on his return and Harrison completing the scoring with a great finish to top off a complete personal performance on the day. Whilst the result was crucial to both teams, the game was played in an excellent sporting spirit and umpired professionally. For the home side of course the result was well received, but the spirit, skill and class of the performance made the watching very enjoyable; indeed the long suffering watching Long Sutton Hockey style fashionistas were at last treated to a collection of hockey that Vivienne Westwood would have been happy to design. This is only one result for Sutton and one swallow does not make a summer, but maybe a parliament of owls may well have given them something to build on. Report by Hunter S. Thompson