Mens 1st XI vs Norwich City 2

First trip across the Norfolk border doesn't go to plan for 11 man Sutton

With news breaking of Uni 1s moving our fixture next weekend on the morning of the game, Sutton went into the game thinking this would be the last of 2024. With just 11 travelling, it was bound to be a tough outing taking on a strong Norwich outfit who would be keen to get back to winning ways following 3 losses on the bounce. The day began with Michael and Admin arriving in time for the game before the game before the game. Proper keenos. This turned out to be almost 2 hours before push back after several delays. JB arrived and began with the niceties towards his past team-mates. Not that he would have much care for them once he got on the pitch. Even Angry Man Jim met a past veteran whom we can only assume he once shared a grass pitch with in 1987. He was particularly turned on by Jim's snazzy gold jacket which he wore post-game. Who the hell let him get his hands on that?!

Turning our attention to on pitch activities, the good lads were outraged to hear such slander directed at a club stalwart in Bessy. The umpire, in typical year 8 fashion, was prompt to point out that this was his pitch, he was running the game, he makes the rules and he wasn't happy with Jane being voted off of I'm a Celeb last night! Pick the bottom lip up pal! Therefore, to be accommodating as we always are, and to avoid the game being abandoned for flooding, we turned Bessy down to operate on a volume of 24 rather than the usual 30!

Onto the hockey... *Insert comments about the first 15 minutes of the game from the last 5 reports here*.... It was the same. So lets fast forward. Past the 15 minute mark, Sutton began to see some chances including that of a PC and a PS shout that should've been after a chuck from JB found Mac. Not long after, JB found the only patch of pitch unaffected by the umpires tears and made a meal out of a half backhand chance. The ball is yet to be found. He struggled with this incident for large parts of the game. No, not the knock to his ego seeing the ball fly over the fenced but the pain in his knee! I know what you horrible people are thinking!

Norwich soon slotted away the first of the game. They finally decided to move the ball around a bit more and lone behold, a nice passing move made room for a clever tap in from close range. Sutton had more half chances but not much else to note from the 1st half. The defence as ever held firm and worked tirelessly for the whole of the first 35. Some solid tackles from the likes of POTM Jim, Mikey, Frodo and Admin. HT 1-0 City

The second half was tough for Sutton. Norwich took full advantage of the extra numbers and created far more chances but the travelling side continued to make them work for it. Dom, Sambo and Mac were fighting hard in the centre of the park. Raggers was finding success on the right flank and young Eddy impressed on the left on just his second 1st team league appearance and on more than one occasion pocketed the City winger boasting many national league caps.

The intensity from City soon became too much and 1-0 became 4-0 relatively quickly. A chip over Pig probably being the hardest for him to stomach. With 10 to go Sutton went searching for consolations and to do themselves proud. Several times JB made carries through and round yellow sticks and won several fouls, one of which resulted in a stroke. On this occasion he refrained from such celebration to get himself, remained on the pitch and slotted the ball home to keep up his scoring streak.

The boys could have potentially had more if it wasn't for the keeper making some outstanding saves between the sticks. FT 4-1 to City. All in all, with 11 men, Sutton certainly did themselves proud with more than half of the opposition side boasting players with many national league caps.

POTM was Jim who made some great challenges across the back and as ever did not shirk a thing and left every piece of himself on the pitch. DOTD was Mac. Let's just say it wasn't his finest game but the boy certainly tried his best xx

No confirmed date as of yet for the Uni fixtures so all eyes turn to the Xmas shenanigans on Saturday. Will Mac be yelled at for use of pyrotechnics? Will Jim get angry despite not playing? Will JB receive a better mid-season report than his A-Level grades? Will Dano win Item of the day again? Tune in next Sunday (or whenever I awake from an alcohol induced coma) to find out all the answers in a very special Xmas Party Day report!

See you there chaps!!!

#greenarmy #parentsevening #nopyronoparty #suttonultras #baddaytobekettering #willwesee10pm