MATCH REPORT

Sunday the 21st saw the first round of the HA Trophy. Sutton hosted Norwich in a nail biting, tense, exciting game where the fans were not disappointed. Both teams started well, putting both goals under some pressure, but neither side being able to capitalise. The second half saw the game come to life. Norwich played a good move allowing them to open the scoring and then quickly added a second. Sutton reacted in the finest form. They closed Norwich down all over the park with their tireless work rate and deserved what followed. Harrison launched an ariel to Allen who sprinted down the wing and found Hales in the D to crash home. With two minutes left on the clock Sutton's efforts were rewarded with a penalty corner. The ball came out to Nick Ellis, and when he fired it in, Sisson got the slightest of touches which deflected the ball into the goal off a Norwich foot. This sparked celebrations aplenty on the sidelines and on the pitch. The game ended 2-2 and into golden goal extra time we went. Sutton dominated both periods of extra time creating good chances, Harrison having his shot saved on the line after a good effort by Shore.

Sutton could not find a break through and the game would be decided by penalty flicks. Nick Bailey, Danny Sisson and Gary Hales all scored, and Jacob Loweth saved two low to his right to leave it at 3-3 after 10. This left sudden death, in which Bailey hit the post, and the Norwich player sent Loweth the wrong way to win the game. A great game of hockey was played and witnessed by a strong supporting crowed. Sutton will take lots of positives from a strong fight back and good team performance into next weeks game but once again Sutton fell short to penalty strokes in a trophy game.

Report by Jimmy Harrison