MATCH REPORT

Long Sutton began their gap year travels with the arduous journey across 3 counties to the East Coast with a squad of twelve, still missing 2 key players through injury and not being able to call up alternatives due to visa and travel permit issues! However the game did see the return of Dan Oldfield from his impressive cricket season, scoring 1000 runs in the manner of a likeable Steve Smith, and the competitive debut of Mckenzie East; both players putting in the sort of shift this hard working team regularly delivers – well done lads your play is only bettered by your spelling and your knowledge of FIFA Computer games - be sure to bring shrapnel next week please! The game was played on the water based pitch (another 5 miles east and it would have been played in the sea!) with its electronic scoreboard – 21st century hockey facilities that we can only dream of – our lights are better though! #justsayin 2 minutes in and Tom Burton decided he needed a chat with the writer so took an enforced 2 minute time out, Sutton defended well in his absence and he returned with no harm done, however after 8 minutes Harleston scored a well worked goal and 1-0 it was. A couple of minutes later a lost ball in midfield ended up with the score being 2-0. As often happens this awoke the fighting spirit in the team and good work from Burton and Ellis resulted in a good finish from Baker 2-1. Sutton pushed on and got the first of 8 short corners in the game which none of them managed to bother the electronic scoreboard. 18 minutes in the 9th best endurance runner in the UK, Dan Batten, needed a breather (no it really happened!) and then Harleston went 3-1 up before Baker made it 3-2 before half time. Positive talk ensued and the team went again – Josh Baker making friends with the locals by retrieving a blown away cap! As they say on the TV, next goal wins it and sadly Harleston scored it – though none of the goals could be laid at goalkeeper Whitmore's door even if he had spent the amount of time on FIFA 20 only David James would see as normal! Tom Baguley then decided to have a chat with the writer for 2 minutes yet Sutton still pushed forward and still made time for Baker to complete a very well take Hat trick. Final score 4-3 to Harleston. A good battling team performance with signs of last season; special mention going out to Oldfield, East and especially Josh Baker who like the rest of the team travelled through 2 time zones to get to the game and gave a mature performance that if he continues that throughout the season will be in the nightmares of most teams in the division – Man of the match richly deserved.