Long Sutton Hockey Club round-up
Long Sutton 2nds will head into the Christmas break four points clear at the top of East League Division 3NW after a 3-2 home success over Kettering on Saturday.
The hosts immediately showed their quality from the start of the game as they played it out wide in the wet conditions.
It wasn't long before great work from Dan Batten and Troy Croxford led to the first of many Sutton short corners and Stef Fox duly dispatched it in off the post to take the lead after only five minutes of the match.
The chances kept coming for Sutton, however, the finishing of Alex Canham and Luke Jackson was more than expertly repelled by the Kettering keeper who was man of the match for the travelling side.
As the half progressed, holes began to open up for both sides and only resolute keeping by Alfie Braginton kept the score at 1-0.
However, he could do nothing for the first goal by Kettering when a short corner was deflected over his outstretched leg by the usually solid Simon Clarke.
This woke Sutton up again and, after some lovely interplay by Jackson, Canham and Eddie Hales, Croxford found himself a chance which the keeper saved - only for it to rebound into the path of Jackson who slotted home to restore the lead shortly after.
Sutton once again exploded out of the blocks after the break, chances falling to Canham and Jack Bragington but the keeper being up to the task.
Kettering's keeper first made a lovely save from a Jackson strike and then another cracker from the Batten follow up.
However, he could do nothing when that save fell to Eddie Hales at the back post to notch home his first goal for the second team.
Rather than push on, however, Sutton appeared to sit back slightly and allow more pressure onto them.
Strong defending from the usual line up of Alfie Bragington, Ben Hales, Tom Baguley and Clarke, ably assisted by the midfield duo of Ed White and Fox, ensured no chances came but the pressure mounted.
Something had to give and. unfortunately for Sutton. it was a lovely through ball which finally unlocked the defence and a well-placed finish made the score 3-2.
Jack Smith came onto the pitch to help shore up the back and, despite skipper Canham being sent off with five minutes remaining, any blushes were spared as Sutton were able to see out the game despite never really leaving third gear.
The first team moved up into second spot in Division 2NW after a 5-0 victory against Cambridge South 2nds.
Josh Baker led the scoring with a hat-trick haul while Luke Proctor and Nick Ellis were also on target.
The third team lost 5-2 against their Kettering counterparts with Andrew Shore scoring both of their goals.
A solitary strike sent the ladies' first team to defeat against St Neots while the seconds lost 5-1 against St Ives 4ths.
They went into the match after back-to-back wins but quickly realised that the St Ives outfit was strong and they would definitely have their work cut out.
St Ives started on the attack and the back four of Julie Warby, Claire Sisson, Sarah Skate with George Synott just in front were working hard to keep them at bay.
St Ives won a couple of short corners that were defended well, with young keeper Ellie Sandall organising her defence with maturity.
It wasn't long though before St Ives breached the Sutton goal to go ahead following some scrappy play.
This Sutton team have grown immensely since the start of the season and the goal seemed to bring them to live.
The midfield of Katie Whittaker, Penny Perowne and Lillie Tegerdine worked well with each other to retain possession and find the forward pass to Aimee Betts, Annabelle Giles and Alison Whittaker.
Following the first substitution, Sutton managed to turn defence into attack with a searching ball finding Giles who sprinted past the St Ives defence before slipping the ball to Betts to finish with aplomb.
Sutton continued to defend hard with Holly Murdoch helping the cause and the half ended with the game all square.
St Ives went in front early in the second half with a well worked short corner and this was followed up in quick succession by a further two scrappy goals, leaving Sutton 4-1 down.
Sutton, however, continued the fight and kept the score down with Sarah Skate excelling in defence and keeper Sandall making a number of good saves and clearances.
Following a collision in the centre circle, an injury to a St Ives player saw Sutton stop play, but the whistle did not go and the opportunity was taken to score a further goal which gave the scoreline a gloss which did not reflect the effort and commitment given by Sutton in this final game before teams take a break for the festive period.
Despite being disappointed with the result, Sutton can be proud of their efforts in this game and in the first half of the season.
This team is growing together and scoring some great goals and they find themselves in a good position in the table to push on after the Christmas break.
