Last week’s game was played in freezing cold and biting conditions and was a romp. Today was supposed to be ‘fun in the sun’ but the milder conditions did not reflect in a mild mannered opposition who came out fighting and with a point to prove having lost against our boys last time out.
Bright play forward by Sutton was quickly thwarted by Lea Hall who pushed forward in attack and took their first opportunity from a corner which was blistered away from the mouth of goal by Alex. Despite some good passing play by Sutton, Lea Hall kept winning possession and had most of the ball for the first 10 minutes but failed to take advantage of their strong midfield performance with any winning finishes by their less than deadly strike force.
Sutton grew in confidence and Lea Hall’s goalkeeper commenced a busy period for him which basically lasted until the last 5 minutes of the game (our man of the match for them in our opinion!). Shots were saved from Mitchell, Alex and Zak as well as a number of agonisingly close attempts which slipped just wide of the posts from Matty, Zak (from a free kick) and then Nesta who had come on as a substitute, along with Will Hussey for Will Baker and Matty.
All the boys kept their shape and some expert passing down the right hand side between Will, Kai and Zak should have resulted in something more conclusive than was achieved – frustration was creeping in without a doubt! A great corner from Will straight onto Zak’s head lofted over the bar, an individual run by Matty resulted in a shot wide and a Maradonna style ‘duck, dive and weave’ by Zak concluded in Nesta shooting agonisingly wide.
Finally, the deadlock was broken just before half time and in the 19th minute when a corner was picked up by Nesta who flicked the ball from his left to his right foot and angled the ball passed the goalkeeper’s outstretched arms – relief all round – well not from Lea Hall!
Sutton started brightly in the second half with a lot of pressure on Lea Hall’s goal. Parental concern focused on Sutton now playing up the incline and Jacob having the sun squarely in his eyes – were Sutton to rue those early doors missed chances?
Twice Zak missed golden opportunities – a sitter of a cross and a second shot 15 yards out and struck hard – but straight at their goalkeeper. Individual runs by Matty, Kai and Mitchell could not find a finishing touch. Zak was taken off and Calum came on. Will Baker also came on as a striker to replace Nesta.
Then – disaster! Lea Hall’s first true break in the second half led to a miss timed pass flying high into the sky and wheeling into goal with Jacob too blinded by the sun to gauge its trajectory – 1 all!
What a bounce back from Sutton just one minute later! Will Hussey was awarded a free kick 15 yards out from goal, he lobbed it and it floated in the air, bounced, landed in the goalkeeper’s hands who, fortuitously for Sutton, then staggered back across the line and the referee awarded the goal!
With Lea Hall once again trying to come back from behind they pressed forward and nearly scored from a free kick awarded after a foul. All efforts at this stage seemed to be thwarted by defensive determination from Alex. More pressure from a Sutton attack led to no one left in defence and when Lea Hall got the ball Jacob came bravely out of the box to take their men on however Lea Hall slipped passed and it was only a determined sprint by Tom that enabled him to clear the ball off the line with just centimetres to spare – phew – too close for comfort!
Nerves were jangling by this stage but the boys kept cool and the close to goal efforts were from individual attempts rather than passing play by Matty, Mitchell and Will Hussey. The goal however was a well worked team effort between Mitchell and Will Hussey who deftly flicked the ball into the back of the net – 1-3!
Zak came back on in defence and Calum pushed up to midfield. Calum and Will Baker had chances but Lea Hall’s goalkeeper was doing everything he could to make up for the deficit and nothing Sutton could do would stretch their lead further.
The win was a ragged one with guts rather than gifted play but we will take the wins however they come!
MOM – Alex Rafferty for an outstanding contribution in defence and his tackling tenacity!
Report by Sarah Shaw
