Long Sutton Men’s 2nds 3
St Ives 3rds 0
Goals: Luke Jackson, Troy Croxford, Sam Bartlett
Fresh off the back of a tough game at home against a strong Wisbech side, Sutton looked to recoup their losses and field a side away to St Ives – historically a tricky side to navigate, as evidences by the 1-1 draw in the first fixture they had.
With Stef Fox still on manoeuvres in the 1st XI, and both Adam and Will Taylor away, Sam Bartlett and James Collingwood-Smith stepped up and played their roles in this feast of a game.
Lined up to start the game, Sutton immediately looked to put last week behind them by going straight on the front foot.
Alex Canham and Eddie Hales began to terrorise the defensive line, and they were ably supported by both Luke Jackson and Bartlett bombing down the wings.
Dan Plant and Troy Croxford continued to run the midfield, and it was from these forays forward where short corners were won and chances created.
But the star of the show was yet to stamp his authority on the game – man of the match Edmund White stepped forward and played a 65-yard ball right into the path of Jackson on the by-line, who put the ball goal wards for Bartlett to open his account this year with a back post tap in at full stretch.
Whilst Sutton continued to pile on the pressure, the ball refused to go into the net to leave the game 1-0 at half time.
With some half time encouragement from Fox (who had stayed to manage), Sutton began the second half more cautiously and looked to exploit the space that St Ives offered.
At the back Alfie Braginton was in good form when the ball reached him – however with the defence of Ben Hales, Tom Baguley and Simon Clarke the ball very rarely did!
Sutton again turned up the heat, and White, Eddie Hales and Croxford kept winning short corners to try and put away.
This time however, from two more shorts came two more goals – the first a scrappy finish from Croxford and the second a classy finish from Jackson.
With time running out there was not much action to be had with the exception of two unfortunate injuries to St Ives players, and for Hales to get a green card with 20 seconds left in the game to blemish an otherwise perfect day.
