Long Sutton Athletic bounced back to form in style with a crushing 6-1 success over King’s Cliffe in ChromaSport PDFL Division One on Saturday.
A treble from player/boss Matt Cawthorn, a double from Matty Oliver and a Martin Ward cracker did the job for Sutton at London Road.
They are now up to tenth in the table having only lost one of their last six – and Magpies chief Cawthorn was happy with the performance.
He said: “I’m not really sure how to describe my team, Jekyll and Hyde, inconsistent.
“But, at times this season, we have ripped teams apart. Then at other times we’ve been really poor or we have played very well and luck just hasn’t been with us.
“But for me the character of the lads has started to shine through and we’re starting to see the positives.
“Last weekend was a negative and I asked for a response against King’s Cliffe. But in the build-up to kick-off things weren’t good. In fact, it was poor and the lads knew I wasn’t happy prior to kick off – which isn’t the best preparation.
“Sure enough it told, because for ten minutes we weren’t at the races and couldn’t find a black and white shirt for love nor money.
“But, once we settled, Jake Narducci controlled the game with Billy Oliver in the centre of the park and we clicked.
“Overall it was a positive reaction and a decent display. We just need to be a little more consistent and manage games better.”
Sutton opened the scoring when Ward found the top corner with his trademark “outside of the left foot” strike from 30 yards, then Cawthorn soon made it 2-0 after 15 minutes.
Player/boss Cawthorn made it 3-0 with a header from a corner – and he could have easily added to the tally after striking the post and having a “lazy” penalty saved right on half time. Neal Lattimore duly pulled one back for Cliffe to make it 3-1 at the break.
Two Matty Oliver goals and Cawthorn’s hat-trick strike rounded off the rout after the break.
Sutton: Taylor, Ramm, Nicholson, Brandon, Bennett, Moses, Ward, W Oliver, Narducci, M Oliver, Cawthorn. Subs: Wayman, Brothwell, Woolmore.
Saturday: Glinton & Northborough v Sutton (2pm).
Match ball sponsor: Kev & Deb Cawthorn.
