Sutton crushed in blistering first half display

With both coaches missing this was going to be an interesting affray but as usual the girls simply got on with the game irrespective as to who was playing and within the first few minutes Lauren playing in a much higher role this week received the ball close in to the keeper and with a quick pirouette lifted the ball over the sprawling keeper to take the lead. With the team settled attacks mounted but care had to be taken with Suttons counter attacks and tactics of leaving a high forward to roam behind the back line.
Sutton were not defeated yet and they were creating a number of chances that were efficiently dealt with by the defence of Lucy, Georgina, and LJ anchoring the middle with anything getting through the back line being kept at bay by Jo. LJ was calmly slamming high powered passes out of defence direct to waiting sticks whilst EJ was mopping up anything left in the wake of Ruth’s decisive tackling and the team was purring along nicely with everyone going about their tasks admirably.
With Sutton pressing for an equaliser there were gaps opening up, Ruth was busy destroying anything that was loose in the middle and it was one of these high powered tackles that led to the second goal as the ball was fed in and great anticipation from Tammy saw her jump in front of the static defender to steer home to increase the lead. Izzy and Annabel were quietly efficient allowing Sutton no time on the ball and feeding the forwards as soon as they could. As the ball was once again cleared out of defence Annabel latched onto and tore off upfield and after interchanging passes fed Tammy in who made no mistake to take it to 3:0.

The second half saw Sutton push more players forward and they were playing as a side far above their lowly position causing the Sils defence to work extra hard as numerous chances were repelled. But by now Sils were conceding a high number of short corners due to a lack of concentration although it was comforting to see a side that was as wasteful with their chances as Sils are at times.

Meanwhile as the substitutions were rolled on and off credit has to be given to Priya who is enhancing her skills week on week and allowed the defence no respite by chasing almost every ball down and by sheer perseverance found herself in space with a great chance to score but was eventually swamped by the defence as she attempted to get her shot away.

With Sutton attacking with greater tenacity as the game wore on it was only a matter of time before something happened one end or the other and unfortunately midway through the half a deflected shot wrong footed the defenders and a forward was on hand to capitalise getting a goal back. Confidence suddenly drained from the team and there was a significant wobble but Lauren actively encouraging all around got the game going again and the spirit was lifted through teamwork and belief to get things back on track again as the Sutton goal was once again being peppered with shots.

With minutes remaining on the clock Tammy once again picked up the ball just inside her half and tore down the flank leaving the defender in her wake within seconds, meanwhile down the middle Frankie was racing to keep up with her flying captain and as the ball was smashed across the D a flying full length dive from Frankie saw the ball just evade her stick from what would have been a superb goal.