Men’s 1st give Ely City 9-2 drubbing at home

Long Sutton Men’s 1st 9
Ely City 1st 2

Three games to go and with promotion hopes in their hands, the lads were focused on getting the job done.
Sutton began the game in typical Sutton style – hard and fast.
The boys were 1-0 up through Josh Baker before the home side could even get a touch on the ball.
The first goal was soon followed by a second. Baker was played through by Daniel Batten, who was able to slip in Brad Sargeant on the right side of the D to smash home to make it 2-0.
The scoring didn’t stop there however, just under ten minutes in a fast break away from a ball from Dan Oldfield meant Baker was able to gallop half the length of the pitch round the Ely defence and fire one in the backhand.
And then just before the 15 minute mark, a shot from Sargeant was impressively guided home by Olly Taylor to make it four.
Sutton showcased what they could do and put Ely to the sword early on.
From here the half slowed but Sutton remained solid thanks to their defence.
It was later on into the half that Nick Ellis was found on the 23. He carried forward, played Baker in to the right side of the D and he was able to finish first time on the forehand to complete a first half hat-trick. Sutton saw out the rest of the half and reached the break five goals to the good.
The second half began with Ely scoring first through a flick.
Sutton responded with intent. Up the field they went, driven by the midfield. It was a lovely team goal to bring up the sixth as Baker cleverly played in Batten round his back who was then able to complete a 1-2 with Dominic Ibrahim to round the keeper and get his own name on the scoresheet.
Sutton weren’t done there. Baker was able to add his fourth on the backhand to make it seven before Batten crashed home to make it eight.
The game was starting to become somewhat of a scrappy affair but Sutton made sure to keep themselves on top and there were plenty more chances in the half.
Many attacking runs were made down the flanks and it was one of these runs that would present the last goal of the game for Baker to complete his tally for the day.
Ely managed to gain a second at the death.

Long Sutton Men’s 2nd 5
Cambridge Nomads 2nds 1

Sutton made their penultimate travel down to Cambridge early and ready to face a Nomads side who had tested some strong opposition this year, but had fallen shy in a six-goal blow-out earlier this year.
With numbers once again thin throughout the section, Sutton travelled with another 12, with the usual squad joined this week by Ross Emmet Gavaghan, making a return to both hockey and the Green Army for the first time in six years.
From the first whistle, it looked to be a cagey affair with early chances from both sides repelled by the other teams defence.
Man of the match Alfie Braginton commanded his back line with aplomb, with Ben Hales and Si Clarke ready to step forward and support the wingers with their running.
Stef Fox and Edmund White marshalled the midfield, allowing Dan Plant, Luke Jackson and Troy Croxford to have their full attacking liberty.
Up top, Alex Canham and Eddie Hales were making leads and terrorising the attempted playing out by Nomads.
The half dragged on, and with not too much of note happening it was a great run by Jackson cutting around the outside of the fullback, before firing it across the goal for Plant to notch his and the team’s opener.
Some might have thought that the floodgates would have opened at this point, but instead some great interplay in the midfield by Nomads – alongside some suspect finishing by Sutton – kept the defence honest and working until the half time whistle.
A full and frank team talk followed, which got Sutton fired up and ready to start the half – possibly too fired up as Eddie Hales managed to pick up a green card about five minutes into it.
A little bit of calmness had to follow and in the space of eight minutes Sutton ended up killing the game off in inspired style.
To begin, some lovely interplay between Ross Gavaghan and Fox left Eddie Hales, and then Canham, free to feed Plant to finish off his second of the day by rounding the keeper and slotting home.
Just a couple of minutes later, the magic began to work, with Tom Baguley underlapping Ben Hales and receiving the ball, before sending the ball into Fox who slotted home the third goal.
And almost from the off, Canham had a great chance to continue the scoring after an interception but found the finish very lacking.
Then some silky movement from Baguley with White in the middle of the park, led to a easy back post tap in for Plant to complete his hat-trick.
With the game almost dead, there was just time for the defence to give away a short, and after a back post tap in of their own Nomads got their consolation goal.
The game looked to be petering out, with both teams picking up cards of their own until Sutton won a short corner in the dying moments.
Baguley got his permission slip from captain Canham, and all the spectators could do was watch in awe as the ball was slipped from Fox to Baguley before the ball pinged into the goal off the post to leave the final score at 5-1.
With all teams around them winning, Sutton still find themselves second and right in the mix for their final game of the season next week.

Long Sutton Men’s 3rd 9
Ely City 3rd 2

Long Sutton Ladies’ 1st 0
Spalding 1st 3

Long Sutton Ladies’ 2nd 1

Wisbech 4th 0

Buoyed by the win against Ely City last week Long Sutton Ladies’ 2nd faced local rivals Wisbech in confident mood.
With a change in the formation, partly due to the absence of Pippa Hastings but mainly to ensure an attacking set up, Sutton took to the field for the early start.
It was Wisbech who attacked Sutton first though but this came to nothing.
Sutton soon settled and a great break from the very speedy Annabelle Giles who drove at the Wisbech defence saw Sutton take an early lead with Aimee Betts applying the finish.
Sutton continued to dominate with Katie Whittaker quick to put in a strong tackle whenever Wisbech threatened and carry the ball forward.
Sutton almost stretched their lead with Lillie Tegerdine just unable to apply the finish, having taken up an intelligent position at short corners.
Sutton continued to press Wisbech back with forwards Alison Whittaker, Chantil Sinclair and Holly Murdoch defending from the front, putting Wisbech under pressure but the half finished with only the one goal to show for their efforts.
After the break Wisbech threatened more but Sutton’s defence are a settled unit.
George Synnott was reading the game well, closing the Wisbech forwards down and the back three of Julie Skate, Emma Grosvenor and Sarah Skate were as imperious as ever.
Wisbech did win a couple of short corners late on and goalkeeper Ellie Sandal made an impressive late save as she was in no mood to give up the clean sheet.
The game finished with Sutton victorious and saw then move up the table to an extremely impressive fourth place.
With only one more game to see them secure points Sutton want to finish what has been an amazing season on a high.