MATCH REPORT

LSHC Men's First Team Season Summary 

The Men's 1s had a season to remember this year with plenty of highs and lows, cheers and tears but most importantly so much to celebrate and reminisce. The season began in mid-September with the weather hot and the boys having had next to no pre-season. They travelled to Cambs South with a small squad of 12. Famously a place where the boys have struggled, this day would be different. A positive 2-2 draw thanks to goals from Dan Plant and Brad Sargeant, paved the way for what was to come over the next 21 months. It was not a win, but it was a performance that rocket fuelled the atmosphere around the side. An atmosphere that would be crucial going forward. The boys then played out a narrow 4-3 loss to a strong Bourne Deeping side at home the following week with Joshua Fyson notching all 3. This however, would be their only home loss of the season… Next up a 2-1 win on the road at Peterborough. The first 3 points of the season. Wisbech away was next under the Friday night lights. Wisbech were top of the table and posed a great threat. Despite this the boys remained upbeat. The game started on the wrong foot however, with Wisbech putting 3 away inside the first 15. Nevertheless, the lads kept at it and forced a way back into the game bringing it back to 4-3, needing one goal for a point with 10 to go. After a goal being ruled out, the home side transitioned well down the pitch and put away a fifth to kill off the game. A loss, but certainly a learning curve for the boys. 

November arrived and with it came the return of Jimmy Harrison and Josh Baker. Both would prove to be important pieces of the jigsaw at the end of the season. Post Peterborough away on the 4th of November, the team's record read as follows. Played 8, won 4, drawn 1, lost 3. This included a tide changing win, 2-1 away win to a high-flying St Neots side. McKenzie East stepping up as man of the moment with 2 massive goals for the win with the away side only having 11. The lads sat 5th in the table. What would happen from here on in would be one of the greatest runs of form any 1st team has seen at this club. With 14 games remaining in the season, 13 would be won and just one lost. It began with 3 wins before Christmas. A 7-2 win over Ely, with returning Josh Baker netting a hat-trick, a huge 3-2 away win at March, followed by a 5-0 win at home to South to finish things off for 2023. With this little run itself the lads had entered the promotion chat. Enter 2024. Enter Dan Batten. After ripping it up in the 2s, Batten came into the side in hot form. A re-arranged game against the league's bottom club Cambridge City 4s began things off for the year in style with a 10-3 win. The boys in green were certainly beginning to cook up something special but this was just the starter course. A 6-1 and 7-1 win against Bourne Deeping and Peterborough 3s respectively, followed. This included another 3-peat for Joshua Fyson and a first senior 3-peat for McKenzie East who, as the season progressed, proved to be a more and more important member of the side. The midfield of Jimmy, Sam Gray, Dom Ibrahim and McKenzie were vital this season, alongside the likes of Batten and Will Taylor stepping in at times. The midfield was behind most things good this season, setting the high pace of attack and creating countless opportunities going forward in a team that ended with the league's most potent attacking record. Not forgetting the flankers, Nick Ellis, Olly Taylor, Frazer Watt and Dan Plant. These were the unsung heroes. Stepping up with big goals at important times and never dropping below 100% for the team. 

6 wins on the bounce but up next was local derby part 2. Wisbech at home. If there was ever a time for this game to be played it was now. Wisbech in the form of their lives having won all 14 games of the season, travelling away to a roaring Sutton side, scoring goals for fun with a strong sense of resilience, togetherness and belief. A recipe for success. With a big crowd in attendance this was destined to be a cracker. Despite Sutton's many 1st half attacks and chances, Wisbech would head into half time 2 goals to the good. What would follow was certainly the best 35 minutes of the season. Goals from Frazer Watt and Joshua Fyson pulled Sutton level within the first 10 before Josh Baker smashed them into a 2-goal lead with a quickfire brace in the next 10. 4-2 the full-time score would read on a massive day for the boys. They were well and truly on a train heading full steam towards promotion… But there was still work to be done. Wins over Cambridge City 3s and St Neots followed. Games the boys mostly dominated and controlled. It was the first time teams were fearing this side and what they were capable of but with that meant teams would approach games differently. In these 2 games the defence were key in dictating the build up play, stopping multiple opposition forays forward and prizing open opportunities for the forward lines. Dan Oldfield, Michael Donaghy, Joshua Fyson and captain Luke Proctor were the ever-presents across the back with James Cliff between the sticks who was having one of the seasons of his life. Up next was St Ives away. A tricky away day and the home side certainly made it so. A warm day and tempers certainly boiled. The lads travelled in short numbers with a few unavailable but still with strength. Stefan Fox notably stepping in. 70 minutes followed and they were 70 to forget for the lads. Cards, handbags, missed open goals, you name it. It happened in this game. It was not the away sides day. A 4-3 loss meant that with 4 games remaining, Sutton sat 1 point behind IES in 2NE in the race for Div 1N. 

The run in was one to be joyous about. March is historically a favoured month for the 1s and this stat remained intact. 4 wins from the remaining games with IES drawing 2 of theirs granted Sutton their wish. Promotion to Div 1N. An edgy 4-2 win at home to Peterborough, 2 big wins v Ely and March finishing it off with a 6-2 win on the road to Cambridge City 4s was enough to do the business. The lads celebrated the last game as they very much deserved to do so achieving what, at the start of the season, seemed the absolute unthinkable. It was also a suitable send off for Olly Taylor, who next season heads off to university. Div 1N life will be tough. There will be losses, their will be wins. There will be cagey draws. But one thing for sure is that this side, no matter what happens, will be the tightest squad in the league, enjoying every game together and giving it their absolute all. Lead by the best admin this world has ever seen, Luke Proctor, 23/24 will be a season for the history books.  

23/24 Season Record: 

Position: 2nd; Won: 17; Drawn: 1; Lost: 4; Scored: 105; Conceded: 43 

Team Award Winners: 

Top Scorer – Josh Baker 

Captain's Player – Sam Gray 

Player's Player – Frazer Watt