MATCH REPORT

SUTTON SMASH THIRD PLACE SAINTS AS PROMOTION COMES WITHIN TOUCHING DISTANCE

Sutton hosted St Neots this week. In the reverse fixture, the boys travelled with 11 men and won 2-1 in a game that was a real turning point in the lads' season. Since then, they have only lost once! With no Harrison and Oldfield, in came Fox to help out across the back line and midfield.

Sutton started with a bang. They were two goals up inside the first 5 minutes! A penalty corner from Fyson dispatched into the bottom left and then a long ball over the top from the same man, fell to Batten who with a perfect touch fed in Baker to score into an empty net. Sutton were firing on all cylinders. Taylor, Batten, East, Gray, Ellis, Watt, Sargeant and Baker were all electric going forward. Multiple upgrades were won in the first half meaning both Baker and Fyson doubled their tallies and the score read 4-0 inside 20 minutes. St Neots then pulled one back. Sutton made sure to stay focused and switched on at this point and to continue their forages forward after the epic comeback win the travelling side claimed over Bourne last week. Sutton danced forward and another upgrade saw Fyson fire home another drag flick into the top corner. The sixth and final goal of the half for Sutton came when a crash ball into the D deflected up, was controlled by the thumb of Baker and then hit home on the reverse into the roof of the net. St Neots weren't quite done there however as they added themselves a second. Two first half hat tricks from the Josh's saw the score line reading 6-2!

A classy first half from the home side but they knew there was still work to be done in the second half. Sutton started well but weren't quite as potent as the first half although it was always going to be tough to follow up that first half. The defence of Ibrahim, Fyson, Donaghy and Proctor held firm however and kept out any possible St Neots attacks with the help of Cliff behind and Fox just in front. The second half wasn't one of many highlights but the seventh goal came from a penalty stroke after a Baker shot struck a defender in the mask on the second shot of a short corner. He took the flick and took his tally up to 4 for the game. There began to be a few more chances throughout the second half for the likes of Watt, Batten and Sargeant but all were unlucky not to score. Baker would finish proceedings after cutting side off the baseline and scoring from an angle to the top left on his backhand to make it 5 for him. Upon the restart, the full time whistle sounded and Sutton had won once again.

A week off to rest and refocus for the home straight with 5 games remaining. 9 wins on the trot. How long can the boys keep it going? One things for sure is that whatever happens, this season has been one like no other before and this group will be together all the way no matter the results. St Ives away is up next on the 24th

POTM was Baker, scoring 5 and linking up on multiple occasions with the attacking and midfield lines to create many chances going forward.