MATCH REPORT

BATTEN DOWN THE HATCHES – STORM DANNY IS LOOKING TO WREAK MORE DAMAGE Another week and another local derby for Sutton 2nds. The squad of 12 travelled to Wisbech for the top of the table clash against Sutton's nearest rivals, taking their usual mix of young players and experienced players to contest what is always a derby in the truest sense of the word. Sutton started well, shocking Wisbech who struggled to cope with the effects of Storm Batten as he looked to continue his fine vein of goal scoring form. It did not take him long to wreak havoc as he opened the scoring with a clinical finish to make it 1-0 after 3 minutes. Wisbech were shocked, especially as before they had time to collect themselves Croxford scored the goal of the game with a deflected finish which would have given Maddie Hinch no chance! 6 minutes in and Sutton led 2-0 with their marauding front runners creating chance after chance – the score would have been more if it had not been for the resolute defending of the Shippey brothers for Wisbech as the home side tried to come back into the game. Sutton were having none of it in this, their best half of hockey all season, and it was little surprise when Batten scored his second, Suttons third after 23 minutes. 3-0 and Wisbech with a mountain to climb in an area where mountain climbing is rare. Whilst Sutton's forwards were excellent, so as usual were their defence; Baguley and Clarke as assured as ever with more than able support from the sinister duo of Fox who dropped into a back four and Sutton's Tom Baguley (2025 edition) Ben Hales who put in the sort of performance Bobby Moore would be proud of as he showed how much he had learned off Baguley! One marauding run from Hales from right back all of way to Wisbech's D was reminiscent of Maradonna, though this one ended up with a Wisbech foot rather than a handball! Not that Hales forgot his day job as he marked Jason Mallet, ex of this parish pretty much out of the game. No mean feat as Mallet is one of the better players in this league. Half time and the score was 3-0 The White boys as dominant as ever, Jackson working hard and providing discipline in the congested midfield, Canham and Eddie Hales holding the forward line well and Croxford continuing his best game for the seconds. Braginton had little to do, but what he had to do he did well as the whole Sutton side played with a passion and desire that blew Wisbech away; make no mistake this was a good Wisbech side and although the start shocked them Sutton beat them fair and square – on another day the shoe may be on the other foot but this was not that day. Sutton controlled the second half and although Wisbech came back into it a little there really was no doubt of the final outcome. Wisbech had been beaten and sportingly their players congratulated Sutton accordingly, as the game came to an end like local sports matches should after starting with a minutes silence for a local rugby player who had passed away on the pitch the previous week. Fair play to both sides as sportsmanship was the ultimate winner.