MATCH REPORT

Sutton headed off to Horncastle with the recent home win against the North Lincolnshire side fresh in the memory and one change from last week with East replacing Ellis, who as usual was busy at work on the build up to Valentines Day; it is also expected that as usual he will not be busy on actual Valentines Day!

Sutton lined up with the midfield partnership of Batten and Jacob Synott being supported by Josh Baker as they looked to dominate the home side in midfield as they did in January. The plan worked well, Sutton took the game to Horncastle, whilst Fox and Baguley kept anything Horncastle threw at them up front quiet; this was one of the best games the central defensive partnership have had all season – Horncastle could not buy a goal and Sutton were not giving them away. At the other end of the pitch Baker was at his mercurial best, mazy runs driving the team forward ably supported by the likes of Man of the Match White who played well on the flank and Batten who made the type of runs into the D Horncastle were missing at the other end of the park; it was Batten who opened the scoring with a composed finish following a short corner.

Not to be outdone Baker doubled the lead after good team play in the build up and Sutton felt they could breathe – however this Horncastle team were not without quality and fighting spirit and this was evident when they pushed Sutton back to bring the score back to 2-2 after 28 minutes with a rope-a-dope double inspired by their roaming attacking player. Cue the Sutton comeback, Jacob Synott, one of the teams success stories this season, drove the team forward and James Collingwood-Smith scored the type of goal he would have dreamt of scoring as his contribution to the team continues to grow. Half time and 3-2 to Sutton.

The second half began and Sutton continued as they had left off, with Canham, Taylor, East and Jacob Synott pressing the home side when they were in possession; forcing errors which allowed Batten, the ever busy Baker and the intelligent White to look to start attacks which very soon resulted in a second goal for Baker and the cushion was restored. Harry Synott and Tom Burton ably supported from wing back as the side remember what it was capable of. Even a Horncastle goal against the run of play did not deter Sutton as White who had moved to Left back to cover the injured Synott went AWOL but reappeared at the top of the D, beat three players, flicked the ball up on the half volley and buried it past the keeper. Thus guaranteeing the game would be first on Match of the Day that evening! A goal his father would have been proud of………………….if only he could have scored it!

Horncastle are a good side though and they came back and would have reduced the margin sooner if Fox hadn't reacted well to stop ex Sutton player Shore from stealing in at the back post for a tap in; however this was only a delay as Horncastle did bring it back to 5-4 with around 3 minutes to go. This did not deter Sutton as after good work from Canham, Baker completed a very good hat trick and restored the comfort zone – the final whistle went and Sutton were 3 wins from 6 since new year, sadly they were 0 wins from 11 before Christmas so it maybe academic but the resolve and pride in playing for the shirt was evident and with 5 games left to play let's hope they finish their season in the same style. One could not finish the match report without complimenting both teams on what was a quality match played in good spirit and both Umpires who umpired the game well and were excellent.