MATCH REPORT

Sutton came into this clash on a run of high scoring victories, and whilst their quality of play never reached the level of recent weeks they once again won by a large margin.

Spalding defended bravely from the start, however it did not take long for Bailey to open the scoring. Sutton pushed forward looking for their usual fluidity and whilst the score was 4-1 at half time, the ruthlessness normally shown by the team only appeared in patches. The Sutton goals came from a brace for Bailey, Shore and an own goal after good work from Batten.

The second half continued very much like the first, but as Spalding tired Sutton finally began to make the scoreline reflect their superiority - Shore completing his hat trick, Lovegrove performing to the gallery with a fine finish, Watt from a short corner and Bailey finally getting his hat trick to bring the score to 9-1.

From an individual point of view only Player of the Match, Shore, who is beginning to show his prolificacy in front of goal once again, and Fox, manfully adapting to a new position, will be totally happy with their performances; the rest of the team, especially Bailey, who for once showed he was indeed human by missing more than he scored, will continue to drive forward to the top of the table showdown at the end of the season by using this game as a timely reminder against complacency.

However the scoreline does not lie, this was an emphatic win for Long Sutton.

Report by Hunter S Thompson.