Long Sutton Hockey Club round-up

Long Sutton's men's first team moved up into third spot in Division 2NW of the East League after a 3-1 success against St Ives 2nds on Saturday.

The Saints had started the day ahead of Long Sutton in the league table with the Greens returning to action after a week's hiatus.

The game got underway and the first five minutes could have gone either way as a couple of early St Ives chances were well snuffed out by the defence of Luke Proctor, Josh Fyson Michael Donaghy and Dan Oldfield.

Going up the other end, the forward lines of Olly Taylor, Daniel Plant, Frazer Watt and Brad Sargeant proved dangerous as always.

The middle of McKenzie East and Sam Gray gave the three St Ives midfielders a nightmarish day and short corners would soon come Sutton's way and come to good effect with Fyson converting two in the opening 25 minutes.

St Ives continued to have their chances and remained composed on the ball and deflected a goal past the unsighted James Cliff just before half-time.

Having completed a well rounded first half with a couple of tweaks, the men in green went out as they left off in the first half.

Quick passing and moving got them in and around the 25 but they were just lacking that final touch for outcomes inside the D in the early exchanges of the half.

Mazy runs from East and the impressive Gray gave the midfield further headache, drawing three in and writing them out the game once beaten.

Short corners would again come Long Sutton's way with Fyson rounding off his hat-trick from a well worked routine.

While the Sutton defence were still tested throughout the half with a handful of short corners and some decent chances, these again were snuffed out and generally dwarfed by the attacking play going down the other end.

Plant, Gray, East and Watt ran tirelessly, providing constant chances, while Sargeant again looked dangerous on the ball but that last touch to add to the score was missing as Sutton saw out the remainder of the contest.

The second team remain top of Division 3NW after a 1-1 draw with St Ives 3rds at the weekend.

Both sides began energetically despite the heavy rain and, while Sutton tried to impose themselves, St Ives were more than a match for the home team.

Sutton eventually settled a little after Ed White finished with aplomb following a couple of shots from Alex Canham.

But it didn't affect St Ives and it was no surprise when they equalised to make the scores level at half-time.

The interval talk was open and frank but it was just not there for the home team in the second half and, while they looked like the only scorers, they also forgot that would involve the ball going into the net after a disappointing display.

The third team were beaten 2-1 by Kettering 4ths with Andrew Shore scoring their goal.

The ladies' first team lost 5-0 at Cambridge South 2nds while Sutton's second string were beaten 3-2 by Ely City 3rds.

Sutton created plenty of chances in the opening exchanges with Alison Whittaker and Aimee Betts working tirelessly.

Penny Perowne then fired home the opening goal but Ely managed to level the contest and then took the lead.

Sutton rallied well and Lilly Teggerdine and Betts linked well to tee up Chantil Sinclair to score the equaliser.

This raised Long Sutton's hopes but, despite battling until the end, Ely scored a third to clinch the win.