MATCH REPORT

In their last game of the season, Sutton welcomed Bourne Deeping to the Peele Astro. The young side were looking to finish the season with a win to round off a positive campaign which started with 4 points from the first 4 games and finished with 9 points from the last 3. A total of 34 points for the season making this the most successful season in points earned for 19 years. Arriving with a squad of just 11 a spirited Bourne side was always going to struggle against a Sutton team who over the course of the season have developed into a passing, attractive hockey playing unit. This proved to be true right from the start of the half when Josh Baker, who delivered what was his most complete team performance of the season, showed excellent skills in midfield before delivering a pinpoint cross for Canham to deflect into the net for the opening goal. Sutton pushed forward and the score was 3-0 at half time after two excellent finishes from Sam Markille and Josh Baker himself. The margin could have been larger had Sutton been more clinical with their finishing, Tom Baguley being the biggest villain when showing why his forays into the opponents D are rare but rarely missed! Captain Fox, gave his usual inspirational half time speech backed by the calming words of Man of the Match, Dan Batten who showed a maturity of performance on the day reminiscent of a young Nick Ellis. Baker started the second half in even better form than he had the first and 18 minutes in he had his well deserved hat-trick, as Sutton's movement and Bourne's fatigue meant space and cards began to appear all over the pitch. The wily poacher Markillie and the old head Ellis calmly helped the young raiding Sutton midfielders Jacob Synott and Will Taylor keep pressure on and were ably supported by Harry Synott, all over the pitch in what was his last competitive match before joining up with the SAS. The ubiquitous Baker was involved in the 6th and final goal when his fine cross was deflected into the net by Canham, in the style of a ‘Poundland' Nick Bailey, for his second of the game. And then that was it and 22 matches later this team are a very different proposition to the one that started last August; the mix of experience and youth, the positive team vibe, the passionate support and the excellent intelligent leadership of Stefan Fox have made watching and playing for Long Sutton a very enjoyable pastime!