An injury to top-scoring player-boss Matt Cawthorn took the shine off Long Sutton’s 3-2 derby victory over Spalding United Reserves on Saturday.
Cawthorn damaged his ankle ligaments after landing awkwardly just five minutes after coming on as a substitute during the Peterborough League Division One clash.
He had been unable to make the start of the match due to family commitments as the Magpies made hard work of beating the division’s strugglers.
Cawthorn said: “We were made to battle by a youthful Spalding side.
“It wasn’t pretty, but sometimes you have to grind out results.
“Spalding have been getting beaten heavily of late.
“But this was a game that I was wary of because sooner or later they will pick up three points.
“I could be out until the new year which is the downside of the match so it’s disappointing for me personally, but I was pleased the boys came through and picked up the victory.”
With assistants Kevin Cawthorn and Kevin Rumsey in charge at the start of the match, Sutton began slowly and were probably guilty of over confidence against the basement boys.
They eventually took a 2-0 lead through skipper Billy Oliver and Sam Moses before Spalding halved the deficit when Anthony Melton was penalised for a needless foul.
Lawrence Brandon restored the two-goal advantage before the break with Spalding scoring their second after the break.
Steve Steward and Danny Brewster were on target for the Tulips second string.
Sutton: Taylor, Nicholson, Bennett, Brandon, Melton, Oliver, Narducci, Ward, Radeloff, Moses, Oliver. Subs used: Cawthorn, Punter, Antonio.
