MATCH REPORT

As the wind swept down the pitch, Cams Nomads swept onto the pitch with confidence sitting at the top of the table. Sutton started well with a quickly won short corner. Two attempts though came to nothing and the game then opened up as Nomads realised they would need to get in the game and started to make some runs on goal.

With Daniel Simpson showing some skill on the left and Josh Norey running at them on the right there was some good build up but without a finish. A quick Gilly run saw Sutton threaten again in what was to be their best period of the game. Despite piling on the pressure they couldn't get an outcome. The skills and commitment from new and younger players were on show but the Nomads were instantly on the ball and not giving Sutton any time to think. Jack Smith conceded a short when clearing a ball from a super Braginton save and Nomads strike was blocked by first runner Forest but they then capitalised and recycled to get a goal. A defensive blunder could have seen Sutton 2 down almost seconds later but Gary Croxford got a touch and Sutton once again attacked. On the break Nomads got a second. The third came quickly. Time for Sutton to dig in and regroup as a short from Nomads turned into another and three became four. With Gilly, Adam Croxford and Forest linking well with Eddie Hales and Matt Braginton they were unlucky when the next goal came from Nomads. 5-0 at half time and heads were down as the score line didn't reflect some of the hockey being played. A positivity injection at half time was needed and a reminder of the good hockey played by all so far this season.

Second half and Jake Simpson got his stick in the way commuting to tackling higher and turning over ball, players got on the move with two good attacks. The defence started to gel and the team began to communicate. Gilly channelled his frustration into chasing players down and there was a period of relative calm as both teams battled for possession. With the Braginton's either end putting in some hard graft Sutton kept more of the possession. Nomads snuck another to make it 6. Alfie showed his class saving a lob and the umpires then had a conflab about the origin of the seventh. 7-0 but better play from Sutton. With Sutton energy fading a short dribbled over the line to make it 8. It's fair to say there were some tired legs on the pitch going into the last 15 and Alfie's saves drew cheers from both sides as he threw himself across the goal to snuff Nomads relentless attack. Sutton didn't give up with a few promising runs into the Nomads D but nothing to trouble the Nomads keeper as the experience of their sweeper mopped up around the edges of the D. Nomads continued to press and Sutton kept responding. A late Nomads goal was a harsh reflection on the hard work that had been put in for the second half leaving the score at 9-0. It was a credit to the team that they kept playing to the end, played for each other and lessons will have been learnt. Next week we regroup, put our game faces on and will once again meet the challenge. Player of the match Alfie Braginton