Long Sutton Hockey Club round-up
Long Sutton followed up last week's excellent win over league leaders Wisbech with a hard-fought 5-3 away success at Cambridge City 3rds on Saturday.
They made their usual fast start to the East League Division 2NW match but posed little threat early doors.
Build-up play was somewhat slow but the boys grasped a hold of this as the game went on.
The opening goal came after a call from Josh Fyson found Dom Ibrahim who put it on a plate for Josh Baker to finish into an open net.
City weren't to be put down as they clawed one back with an excellent finish into the bottom corner.
Sutton responded, attacking the City defence and winning their first short corner of the day which was duly dispatched by the reliable Fyson.
Once again City fought back as an attack down the right flank won them an upgrade to a short corner from which they converted to make it 2-2 at half-time.
Sutton knew they had plenty of gears to move up and that they could return home with the three points.
The defence tightened up and James Cliff was relatively untroubled in the second half thanks to the sterling work of Dan Oldfield, Michael Donaghy, Fyson, Jimmy Harrison and Luke Proctor across the back.
Sutton's third goal came from a ball over the top by Fyson and Baker was able to run onto it and with one touch lobbed the keeper.
Once again, City responded and scored a well worked goal to make it 3-3 but Sutton continued to fight back again and another upgrade saw them convert their fourth goal as a second shot from Nick Ellis found Oldfield on the post to tap home for his first of the season.
Sutton didn't want to step off the grass, however, and multiple hard yards were put in by the likes of McKenzie East, Sam Gray, Olly Taylor, Dan Batten and Frazer Watt who all had their forages forward.
The final goal came from a brilliant link up between Baker and Taylor with the latter putting the ball across to Ellis who scored with aplomb to seal the 5-3 win.
With table-topping Wisbech suffering a second successive defeat, second-placed Sutton are now five points adrift of the leaders with six games remaining.
Long Sutton 2nds continued on their path to promotion with a 3-1 derby victory against their Spalding counterparts in Division 3NW.
From the off, the game was an end-to-end affair with both teams having chances early on.
The defences stamped their authority within the first minute and only the last ditch tackling by Spalding stopped ex-players Dan Plant and Luke Jackson from adding to their accounts.
At the other end, a well-marshalled plan by man of the match Tom Baguley - ably assisted by Stef Fox, Ben Hales and Adam Taylor – ensured that the few attacks that Spalding had were dealt with.
Sutton then moved into top gear and, from a Spalding 16, Will Taylor picked off the aerial before feeding in Jackson between the defenders.
Jackson took a touch, drew the keeper, and then put it on the back post for Eddie Hales to tap into the empty net to begin the scoring.
Shortly after, after some top work from Troy Croxford and Sam Bartlett, Jackson ended up with the ball in the D and some smart work then resulted in a penalty flick for Sutton.
Alex Canham walked up to the spot and then duly dispatched the ball to make it 2-0 to Sutton with more time in the half.
The chances kept coming with Will Taylor relishing in the gap between Spalding's midfield and their defence and smart runs coming from Bartlett, Plant, Jackson and Eddie Hales.
Rob Callaby in the Spalding goal made some great saves in one-on-ones to deny Sutton extending their lead further.
However, the flood of chances eventually proved too much for him, and Plant got his fifth goal in three games to see Sutton into the half-time break fully in control.
With a three-goal lead, it was easy for Sutton to get complacent and lose focus.
Spalding did come into the game more at this point and the chances kept coming.
From a short corner earned, the otherwise unflappable Alfie Braginton was sent the wrong way in goal, and James Grant slotted home the short corner to try and start the comeback.
However, thanks to some good saves and resolute defending, the game was managed out to leave the score at 3-1 to Sutton at the final whistle.
Both teams played good hockey and were it not for a defensive masterclass by both sides the score could have been very different.
The third team were beaten 9-2 by Wisbech 4ths with Jack Smith and James Collingwood scoring their goals.
Long Sutton ladies' second team returned to winning ways after a disappointing result the previous weekend with a one-goal victory at Pelicans 3rds.
Sutton started brightly and, with Emma Grosvenor and Claire Sisson restored to the back line, the defence was well set up.
They were however missing the usual duo of Sarah Skate and Julie Warby but, with Holly Murdock and the ever reliable George Synott making up the back line, Pelicans were not able to get a foothold in the game.
The midfield of Aimee Betts, Amelia Norey, Katie Whittaker and Lillie Tegerdine were youthful and sprightly and were linking play well and not allowing Pelicans to break through.
It wasn't long before the speed of Annabelle Giles and the work rate of Alison Whittaker stretched Pelicans.
Some super work took Sutton high up the pitch and Katie Whittaker was on hand to smash in a rebound to give Sutton the lead.
Pelicans pushed and were almost able to restore parity but for a wonderful diving save from Ellie Sandal, who was in no mood to give up on a clean sheet.
The half ended with Sutton 1-0 up and they set off again in the second period really taking the game to Pelicans.
The game did become stretched and Sutton did find themselves outnumbered in defence on more than one occasion but some super defending from all of the back four and some confident goalkeeping ensured they held out.
They almost stretched their lead with Annabelle Giles using her pace to pounce upon a goalkeeping error but she was just unable to convert.
Chantil Sinclair was also tenacious in pouncing upon another strange decision by the opposition goalkeeper but was again just unable to take full advantage.
Amelia Norey continued to cause havoc in midfield and the game ended with an extremely well deserved victory for this side.
The ladies' first team were beaten 1-0 by Cambridge University 3rds.
