MATCH REPORT

Long Suttons men's 1st team came out on top to joint second st Neots having only lost 1 game in the opening quarter of the season looked stiff competition going into the fixture.

With the half term weekends looming over the little club in south Holland scraping teams together was the story of the week previous. undeterred proctor and his merry band of men made there way to st Neots for an 11:30 pushback. An early pushback has commonly been a curse for the men in green but with one of the best starts to a season of any Sutton 1st team for some time the men were keen to buck the trend. Another week another good warm and the boys were ready to do battle.

The opening exchanges of the game were nothing short of cagey on both sides. The defence of Donaghy, fyson, Oldfield and proctor were tested early but absorbed the pressure well. Testament to the quick passing Sutton have played this season counters were quick and swift and soon found themselves in and around the st Neots d. Ellis, East, plant and Taylor ran tirelessly to create chances and shorts (Only 1 all game but we won't mention it) early doors. East being the closest of them which unfortunately came to no aveil.

Our attacking ventures would prevail with east netting his first of the afternoon 25 minutes in. This seemingly rattled the cage of st Neots who compared to the team we had played 2 seasons ago had found some hockey brain and fire power going forward and assaulted with waves of counter attacks. Yet again the defence and the bromance of gray and Ibrahim in the centre of the park kept attacks out the back of the Sutton net and kept the advantage with Sutton going into half time.

Several relieved and blowing faces going into the team talk were generally happy with how 11 Sutton men were handling 14 quick rotating st Neots players.

Keen to put the game to bed Sutton maintained their quick passing style of play and again made in roads into St Neots 25. Chances again came to no avail. 20 minutes in to the second half a quick Ariel found east who strolled into the D and finished neatly on his reverse for his second of the afternoon. Now if the first goal rattled the cage, the second goal kicked the cage off the stand. St Neots were not going down without a fight. A couple of crucial saves from cliff and a ball to the post created some nerves in the ranks. Fyson saw green, which at the same point st Neots would pull their keeper and go to 11 outfield to try and salvage something from the game. There efforts would be rewarded as their forward put away a flick. 2-1 up and made for an interesting final 6 minutes. With grit and determination all 22 players would find them selves inside the Sutton half for the majority of remaining time as st neots tried hard to break down the Sutton defences. A final st Neots short set up a tense finish. First short saved but it wasn't over as the umpire had blown for yet another short. Second short was well ran down and cleared and the men in green went on to claim all 3 points.

A fantastic 3 points away from home with a smaller squad than we'd of liked but all 11 men dug deep and put in possibly the biggest shift of the season so far. A real statement l that this team can go and compete and beat teams at the top of this league.