MATCH REPORT

Sutton travelled to Norwich on Saturday with the bare 11 expecting rain, snow, hail and a miserable day but were rewarded with good hockey weather for once.....oh and 3 hard earned points! Sutton started cautiously on a very bumpy and wary playing surface which would play havoc to Sutton's slick, flowing hockey all afternoon. Both teams enjoyed spurts of possession as they both gave the ball away cheaply which resulted in both teams, with 11 men, working harder than they probably wanted to. Sutton came close as Fyson smashed a shot against the post but then took the lead in fortuitous circumstances minutes later. Dan Batten used his speed well and drove into the D. His sideline bound cross took a wicked deflection off a Norwich defender into the goal and gave Sutton the lead. Norwich reacted trying to counter attack Sutton but James Cliff was in sublime form thwarting their efforts. Sutton held on to half time 1-0. The second half was a much more defensive display from Sutton. Norwich came at Sutton hard but Sutton managed to double their lead as Batten's lovely deflection was stopped by a Norwich defender as it was sailing into the goal. Fyson stepped up and slotted the resulting penalty stroke. 2-0. Norwich upped the tempo again and despite valiant efforts from Fox, Taylor and White, managed two goals to draw level. Sutton kept tight and decided they would try and play counter attaching hockey them selves. The front two men of Shore and Jackson were running left and right trying to find space and in turn managed to find each other superbly within 5 minutes. Jackson had his effort expertly saved and Shore was up handed by the bobbly pitch as it struck his foot as he was about to guide it into the goal. Sutton were under attack constantly and couldn't string any sort of play together. However they got their rewards for such a brave second half defensive display as Harrison took a long corner quickly to Gavaghan who fired the ball in to an awaiting Fyson. With a beautiful deflection the ball rocketed into the top corner, a finish that would send shivers down the spine of the great Nick 'deflector' Bailey. Sutton held on to grab a valuable 3 points and give them safety from the drop zone.