Sudbury Ladies 4th X1 0 - 1 Ipswich Ladies 5th X1

Sudbury turned out with a positive attitude looking to build on last weeks win. The game started positively with some strong play and many attacking opportunities from the forward line of Molly May, Maria Risley and Sophie Lesberg-Smith. As the first half progressed Sudbury battled hard, however a basic defensive error resulted in Sudbury conceding an early goal despite keeper Lizzie Anderson’s best efforts and previous saves.
After half time Sudbury came out looking to restore the game with some fantastic linking work on the pitch and determined team play Sudbury put on a performance to be proud of. Alice Park and Moria Thompson worked hard on the wings which helped push Sudbury forward and pressurize the opposing goal. Sudbury’s solid defence of Olivia Hurley, Jaclyn Taylor, Lily Chiang and Kate Hurley ensured the opposition had minimal chances over the half way line. Alice King played a strong game in the center and was unfortunate not to score on many occasions.
Despite Sudbury undoubtedly displaying their best performance this season they were unlucky not to score against Ipswich’s experienced keeper.
Player of the match was awarded to Lily Chiang for an overall strong game both attacking and defending and for playing on tirelessly through injury and to Kate Hurley for another solid and strong defensive performance

Sudbury Ladies 2nd X1 1 - 1 Old Buckenham Ladies

Due to a number of players being away on holiday Sudbury fielded a changed side for this fixture with fellow Division 2NE strugglers Old Buckenham but the new intake into the team provided a fresh and new dimension to Sudbury’s play and made an excellent contribution.  Sudbury’s tendency to go behind in games early unfortunately was repeated in after just 4 mins when an Old Buck’s player used considerable stick skill to evade three Sudbury defenders in the 6 yard area and pushed passed keeper Collette Cottrell who’d made a good initial save.  Undaunted Sudbury created some good chances in the first half, using both flanks of the pitch and utilising the quick ball out of defence well to slice through the Old Buckenham defence at speed.  Becky Spencer, Pip Knight and Lucy Kevis all went close.  Sudbury gained a number of short corners and again new personnel resulted in a consistent shot off which put the keeper under pressure but didn’t result in a goal.  At half time there was genuine belief that Sudbury could gain something from the game and they started fast with Pip Knight and Becky Spencer providing extra speed and agility to the forward line.  Sudbury changed the routine on their next short corner with Warnes, Wordley and Palmer combining well to feed Pip Knight for her debut goal for Sudbury.  It wasn’t all one way however with Sudbury having to defend at least a dozen short corners before the end of the game, two after time had been blown but they held on for a well deserved point, and were kicking themselves that it wasn’t three.  

Market Deeping 1st XI (2) - (2) Sudbury 1st XI

 On a miserable day in Peterborough, Sudbury picked up a point in a battling draw against Market Deeping. 

Sudbury travelled with only the bare eleven, but made a great start to the game thanks to some dreadful defending. Unwin released Bevan who rounded to keeper and finish coolly. Sudbury had the lead after 2 minutes.

 Sudbury struggled to play at the intensity they had managed to previous week, however once again they played some excellent counter-attacking hockey. In the first half Sudbury were just lacking the final ball and a well worked Deeping routine saw the sides level at half time.

In the second half Sudbury continued to work hard, and the back four of Bullock, Harrington, Underhay, and Kevis snaffled out any Deeping attacks. This solid defence gave Sudbury a good platform to attack from, and from a couple of short corners they could have taken the lead. 

Against the run of play, Deeping scored. A ball lifted into Harrington was not penalised by the umpires, and from the resulting drive into the ‘D’ Deeping scored.

Sudbury continued to play their own game, and were rewarded for the pressure they created. From another short corner the ball was slipped to Unwin who flicked past the keeper at the near post. 

To come from behind and pick up a point was a good result for Sudbury, however if truth be told they had the chances to win it. Sudbury remain 8^th in the table, however next weeks game against second from bottom should see them move up the league.

Sudbury Ladies 3rd X1 5 - 1 East Bergholt Ladies

After allowing the game versus Harwich and Dovercourt to slip away from them last week, in atrocious weather conditions, the ladies had put themselves under pressure for this Saturday’s game against East Bergholt – one place above them in the league by goal difference.

Having lost the toss, they attacked right from the first pushback, and despite a new line-up, with several players playing out of their regular positions, they soon settled into some excellent team play.

They maintained good passing play, supporting each other well, and driving forward into the East Bergholt ‘D’, until Florrie Barber broke through to efficiently put Sudbury into the lead before half time.

After the half time discussion, Sudbury came back out, knowing that they had to build on their lead to be sure of the win that they needed. With the majority of the team under 18, they had to use this to their advantage – and they did!

With some of the best passing hockey played by this team this season, they built their attacks again and again.

Solid defending by Jess Kendell, Ellie Bailey, Daisy Palmer, Sally Stephens and Captain Harrington in goal, provided a solid and reliable base to build from.

Excellent distribution from Rosie Daines, India Fitch-Holland, Hester Gatrall and Abi Alston pushed Izzy Gardner, Tash Layzell and Florrie Barber up to maintain pressure on the East Bergholt defence, which resulted in Florrie adding 3 more goals to her tally; with another from Haster Gatrall.

An excellent result demonstrating the importance of good team play – well done!