Scorers Jemima Dodd and Amber Jones ensure ladies turn things around in style after three straight losses

On Saturday Long Sutton Men's 1sts travelled to King's Lynn and were met by a strong Pelicans team, and Sutton lost 3-2.

The game started with both teams playing some good hockey, however Pelicans began to take control of the early exchanges and it was no surprise when they took the lead through a short corner.

Despite some excellent defending by White, Fox and Whitmore in goal the home team doubled the lead half-way through the first half. This young Sutton team dug in well despite this and began to show signs of fight prior to half time and although the score was 2-0 at half-time there was hope the second half would be different.

Early in the second half Batten finished well to half the deficit and the team continued to fight back looking for the equaliser which looked likely, however against the run of play Pelicans scored a third goal to restore their comfort zone. Sutton did not stop fighting though and Luke Jackson finished after good work from Batten to reduce the deficit again. Sutton could not quite get back level though and in the end left Norfolk with nothing other than a whole lot of could-have-beens!

Long Sutton Ladies 1sts met Cambs City, and Sutton triumphed 4-0.

After three straight losses, the ladies needed to turn things around and they did so in some style. They have been threatening to play clinical, deadly hockey all season and chose to do so in this fixture.

With Jess Burton missing, Lisa Baker came into the starting line up in an otherwise unchanged starting line up from the last three weeks.

The game started with the usual high press from Long Sutton and they pinned Cambs City in their own half. Gemma Parr playing slightly higher than in previous weeks cut out anything that came her way but the midfield of Emmy Gittins, Jo Bland and Jemima Dodd were cleaning up most of the ball.

It took only 14 minutes for Sutton to break the deadlock with Amber Jones swivelling on the penalty spot to stroke the ball past the flailing keeper after great work from Jo Bland on the left led to her sweeping the ball into the D.

Tails up and certainly wagging, Sutton continued to pin Cambs City back and it took only three more minutes for Sutton to double their lead.

The scintillating duo of Amber Jones and Connie Gittins combined to move forward at lightning pace, passing between themselves to bypass any possible tackle before Connie Gittins stretched to push past the helpless Cambs City keeper.

Emmy Gittins seemed to have upset the Cambs City players as she was being used as an unintentional human target. First, her knee, then her foot and finally her head all met the ball leading to an enforced ice pack break. She was soon back in the action but not before, on 22 minutes, a quick break from Rhian Goodge on for Emmy, found Connie Gittins who drew a good save from the keeper. The ball fell to Jemima Dodd who swept home on her reverse. It was so quick a break that the umpire only just about managed to get back to the 23 as the ball crossed the line.

The ball speed and movement were a few levels above last week and it showed. Jemima Dodd was running with a new-found directness which opened up the left-hand side. It meant that both sides were dangerous and the whole pitch was used as Jo Bland in the centre of midfield had both space and options, again, missing from the previous weeks.

Just before half-time, Gemma Parr intercepted a cross-field ball, played it quickly to Amber Jones who waited for the keeper to commit before slipping to Connie Gittins for her second.

Almost the perfect half of hockey and certainly an easier half-time team talk than last week.

The second half was much slower as Sutton were happy to sit and soak up anything and everything that Cambs City tried. The defensive unit of Lisa Baker, Tania White, Lauren Cooper and Maisie Sullivan were outstanding and provided the foundation for the rest of the team to drive forward.

Cambs City did force a number of short corners but these were all dealt with efficiently with little trouble until the last couple of minutes when Lorraine Wallis pulled off a double point-blank save which really was top drawer especially after long periods of inactivity.

So, a good win against a mid-table rival. Everyone worked so hard and executed the basics with purpose.

Results Saturday, November 3

Men’s 1s lost 3-2 v Pelicans 1sts.

Scorers: Luke Jackson, Dan Batten.

MoM: Dan Batten.

Men’s 2s drew 3-3 vs Alford 2s.

Scorers: Tyler Hagan, Josh Fyson x2.

MoM: Jack Braginton.

Men’s 3s lost 2-1 vs Spalding 5ths.

Scorer: McKenzie East.

MoM: McKenzie East.

Ladies 1s won 4-0 vs Cambs City 1s.

Scorers: Jemima Dodd, Amber Jones, Connie Gittins x2.

MoM: Jemima Dodd.

Ladies 2s won 5-0 vs Bourne Deeping 2s.

Scorers: Katie Collingwood-Smith x2, Hannah Baker x2, Lisa Baker.

MoM: Katie Collingwood-Smith.