MATCH REPORT

In what will probably be their last game of league Hockey for a little while, Sutton welcomed a strong Spalding 2nds team to the Peele Astro. With some player rotation from the previous week the side also benefitted from the returning Baguley. On a wet day, both teams started with a high tempo and a good standard of hockey was on show for the watching hardy souls who had set up Base Camp in the Sutton foothills. Sutton's defence was well drilled with good games for Adam Taylor, Stef Fox and Michael Donaghy who were led by the inspired Baguley in what was easily his best performance of the season so far. With excellent support in midfield from Cam Ibrahim and Ed White Sutton grew into the game with Canham stretching the game by socially distancing himself in the Spalding half and whilst both sides could have scored the score was 0-0 at half time. Sutton were treated to a robust precis of their shortcomings at half time from an attacking point of view and started the second half more positive. East, Dom Ibrahim and Olly Taylor worked hard and Wiles was always a threat working along the forward line with Sam Gray driving forward from midfield to support the attackers. The game had the feel of one that would end 1-0, yet if anyone was minded to bet on which side it would be that took that lead you would want to remind them that when the fun stops stop! As the half moved on, both sides applied more pressure and when East won a short, Fox slipped it to Gray whose well struck shot was hit with precision to give Sutton a lead. Spalding came back and dominated for a while; each attack being met by excellent defending from Sutton and good saves from Sisson. A genuine team effort ensued to defend the lead; Fox and Baguley giving ‘gentle' instruction to their team mates and leading with some inspired tackling, White, Cam Ibrahim and Gray always offering an outlet and some thankless running to ensure the press hurried Spalding on the ball. Spalding had chances though, the best one ending in a disallowed short when the ball crossed the line above the backboard, however it was not to be their day and the final whistle went with Sutton winning what will probably prove to be their last match before Lockdown 2: Winter is Coming and with it local bragging rights in The Game of the Wash Thrones!