MATCH REPORT

Relegation threatened Sutton welcomed high flying Harleston to the Astro with a depleted team missing Captain Fox, Seaman Synott, Worker Whitmore and Student Collingwood-Smith. The usual squad was joined by Will White, James Cliff and for the first time Cam Ibrahim as they looked to build on their recent upturn in form. The home side started well with Captain for the day Jacob Synott organising well from midfield and Cam Ibrahim looking totally assured filling in at left back. Harleston looked strong but were well dealt with by the defence with Baguley organising them well with assistance from Burton and Ed White and some excellent defensive work by Ibrahim. Sutton worked hard from back to front; Ellis holding the base of the midfield with excellent running and tracking from Will White, Taylor and East. Baker and Canham pressed hard from the front and thanks to the ever reliable Cliff at times the home side more than held their own. Half time arrived with the score 0-0, in fact the home side could have been in the lead as they had chances to be ahead. The second half started just like the first half and Sutton played well again pushing and tracking their opponents back – Harleston knew they were in a match. The game became very end to end and eventually tired legs began to tell on Sutton – they invited pressure onto themselves and although Ibrahim, Baguley and Cliff led the defence well it felt like the side was holding on towards the end. Hold on they did until 5 minutes from the end when a goalmouth scramble with arms, legs, sticks, feet and bodies all in a melee that resembled a Picasso painting ended up with a goal that broke Sutton hearts. There was time to score an equaliser but it was not to be and at the very end it was a second Harleston goal that finished the match to give the scoreline of 2-0; harsher than a Russian winter. Ultimately despite an excellent performance the game ended in defeat, but it was not an Alamo style defeat and wasn't even nearly a Rorke's Drift style survival; no Sutton held their own against an excellent Harleston team which contained numerous ex national league players – a very admirable performance. Final mentions must go to Cam Ibrahim who was outstanding on his first team debut and James Cliff who never lets the club down when called upon.