MATCH REPORT

LSHC Mens' Fourth v Spalding 5ths

Played Home on 23rd March 2013

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23rd Mar 2013 Ladies 1st - Home vs St Ives 1sts

PLAYER OF THE MATCH

John Sullivan profile

Position:: Outfield
Appearances:: 7
Goals:: 1

Sutton fourths finished their league campaign as they started it - with a win- as they squeezed a victory over rivals Spalding. Despite blizzard conditions that raged throughout the match, the pitch was fine and some good hockey was played by both teams. Congratulations should go to both umpires – Bill Watt and Steve Stapenhill-Hunt - for umpiring sensibly and well when visibility was very often poor.

After some excellent work by the rapidly improving Dan Oldfield, Jack Smith opened the scoring for the home side, using his pace well before lifting the ball neatly over the keeper. Spalding equalised with a fortuitous, wrong-footing deflection and then took the lead with a short corner goal from the inspirational Ed Sly, scoring against his former club to a chorus of pantomime boos from the hardy supporters.

In the end, Long Sutton showed greater desire than the visitors, and with John Sullivan running the midfield alongside Adam Sisson and Harry Thorpe, they created a lot of pressure on the Spalding defence, resulting in a series of penalty corners. Captain Ian White managed finally to convert one to bring the scores level and then five minutes from time he struck a second to complete the comeback victory.

It was a great result for the team and a fitting reward for their hard work and team work throughout the season. They have never taken a backward step, never once let their heads drop and been competitive in every single fixture. The improvement shown by the younger players and the enjoyment had by the older players, will stand them in good stead for next season and beyond.

Report by Ian White.