MATCH REPORT

LONG SUTTON LADIES 1sts FALL JUST SHORT AGAINST RUNAWAY LEAGUE LEADERS!
  
Goal scorers; Long Sutton, Fiona Gray, 12 minutes and Leanne Woodhead 18 minutes.
Goal scores; Letchworth, Loren Christian 28 and 50 minutes, Laura Dobson 57 minutes.
 
This top of the table clash bought the best out of both teams. Long Sutton entered the game unbeaten in their first five league games but with two draws from the campaign so far, whereas visitors Letchworth arrived to protect their 100% record following five straight wins. So set as a classic the game did not disappoint!
 
It was Long Sutton who started the sharper and you could sense an element of surprise in the Letchworth camp as they struggled to contain early pressure from the home side. On 12 minutes Long Sutton took advantage through a well worked short corner with the ball after three switches falling to Fiona Gray who was in an excellent position to neatly place the ball into the visitors goal. Letchworth tried to dust themselves down from the early setback but struggled with the fluency of Long Suttons game and on 18 minutes Sutton deservedly increased their lead. Rachael Gadsden fired in a fierce free hit which Leanne Woodhead controlled brilliantly but with a lot still to do Woodhead worked into space and against diminishing angles still managed to strike the ball sweetly past the keeper positioned on the near post.
 
Long Sutton could not afford to back off otherwise Letchworth would have eased themselves into the game but it was still Sutton on the front foot and it looked like Robyn Gribble may stretch the lead on 23 minutes when she got clear of tight marking but was forced wide by the advancing Letchworth keeper. Letchworth had started to create opportunities and look more like a side with a 100% record and were rewarded on 28 minutes. A sharp penetrating break weaved through the Sutton middle and had been well worked into the Long Sutton D, with the umpire poised to award a short corner for an infringement but correctly allowing play to continue while Letchworth had a scoring opportunity which in the end was well executed by Loren Christian rendering the short corner unnecessary!
 
The second half started fast and fluent from both sides but with Letchworth beginning to threaten more frequently which called upon the ever reliable Sutton keeper Lorraine Wallis and the Sutton defence to work overtime. As the second half developed Letchworth became more frustrated but in parallel showed more determination and an eagerness to turn the game in their favour. Following a spell of pressure on the home side Letchworth through an excellent strike again from Loren Christian - who as their star player Letchworth were increasingly looking to - and she didn't disappoint; giving Lorraine Wallis no chance with a super shot to level the scores. Letchworth smelt their chance and with a degree of inevitability continued to pressure Sutton with a mounting short corner count working in Letchworth's favour. Then on 57 minutes Laura Dobson was on hand for the visitors to scramble home a well worked short corner to score what proved to be the winning goal.
 
Long Sutton rallied to the end with Sarah Walker working tirelessly and they had a couple of half chances but Letchworth clung on despite losing Christian to the side-lines with just four minutes to go, carded for frequent infringements. However it was not long enough for Long Sutton to take advantage of the extra man. So in the end disappointing for Long Sutton but by the thinnest of margins and Letchworth would travel home in relief to have come through this game with three points. Sutton will put the disappointment behind them as no league is ever settled in October and the Ladies now need to focus on Royston next week as they are also contenders in this NW2 league.   
 
Player of the match was Captain Leanne Woodhead who scored the goal of the match and a contender in anybody's goal of the season, and also for her superb stick skills and outstanding work rate.  
 
Report by Martin Hudson