Long Sutton Hockey Club round-up

Long Sutton held off a late fightback in each half to secure their first victory of the East League season on Saturday.

The Greens were 5-4 home winners against St Ives who netted twice in the final stages of both halves to set up a nervy ending.

The game started very well for Sutton with several chances going forward before Nick Ellis converted the first of the game.

It didn't take long for one to become two and then three as Josh Baker notched a double in quick succession to take the score to 3-0.

Sutton seemed to take their foot off the gas, however, and St Ives slowly got back into the game.

They came close to getting the first back but a goalline save from Baker prevented a change in the score.

However, it wouldn't stay that way for long as a strong drag flick made its way in before the away side converted a penalty stroke to make it 3-2 at half-time.

Sutton shook themselves about for the second half and got back on the gas again.

Some excellent attacking play using the likes of McKenzie East and Brad Sargeant on the flanks brought much success.

A penalty corner converted by Baker completed his hat-trick and moved the score to 4-2.

An excellent, mazy run from East then found Baker who cut inside and played across to Sargeant to net into an open goal to restore the three-goal lead.

The Sutton defence of Dan Oldfield, Michael Donaghy, Jimmy Harrison and Luke Proctor were about to receive a strong response from the away side, however, as they clawed back two more towards the end of the half before the final whistle sounded.

The second team lost 5-2 at City of Peterborough 5ths while the thirds finished on the wrong end of a 2-0 defeat at Bourne Deeping.

The ladies' first team picked up their first league win of the campaign in style with a 7-0 success over Pelicans 2nds.

Norey netted twice in the first half with L Baker, H Baker and Jones also scoring to give Sutton a five-goal interval lead.

H Baker fired home the sixth goal after the break before completing her hat-trick after taking an acute reverse strike from the left side baseline.

The ladies' second team backed up their win over Wisbech last weekend with a 2-0 success against St Neots 3rds.

Long Sutton took the game to St Neots from the off and Katie Whittaker was running the midfield and spraying passes to her fellow midfielders Penny Perowne and Lexi Clarke.

With Annabelle Giles making some super runs, ably assisted in attack by Aimee Betts and Alison Whittaker, it felt inevitable that Sutton would take the lead.

The only surprise was that it took 17 minutes before they were able to do so as a melee in the St Neots D led to Kate Tillbrook superbly stabbing home.

St Neots did gain some composure and gave Sutton some concern when running down the flanks.

The defence of Julie Warby, Jayne Hunt and Sarah Skate were determined as ever and kept them at bay.

When goalkeeper Ellie Sandall was called upon, she showed why she is such an up and coming keeper by taking charge of her D and clearing any danger.

With Emma Grosvenor having arrived on the scene, Sutton were able to rotate to allow the relentless pressure however they were not able to add to the goals which would have given them a cushion.

With some defensive instructions at half-time regarding the danger of allowing the opposition to run down the flanks, the second period was a mirror image of the first as they dominated but were not able to add to their tally until the 17th minute.

A super ball to the baseline found Alison Whittaker who played it back to Tillbrook to smash home her and Sutton's second.

St Neots continued to toil but were no match for Sutton and again the only surprise was that the Greens could not add to their tally.