Sudbury ladies 1st X1 3 - 0 St Albans ladies 2nd X1

After the eventful away fixture at St Albans, Sudbury were looking for a more controlled performance and were hoping to come away with a decisive result at this crucial part of the season. After early pressure in the first half, a driving run by captain Ellie Colton saw a fast ball played across the D which Shepherdson made no mistake in converting into the bottom corner. Sudbury played the ball well around the back, distributing good passes to the midfield who in turn played well timed balls to Coleman and Farr, which created many chances for Sudbury. With sustained pressure from the Sudbury midfield, Kirsty Sloan skilfully played the ball around the St Albans defence and sent the ball to Chloe Mills at the top of the D who swept it into the right corner. Sudbury's defence of Stephens and Golding kept any attacking opportunity to a minimum and after controlling the first half Sudbury restarted the game on the front foot with a 2-0 lead. However, in the second half Sudbury's passing game broke down, but fortunately the strong defence of Clark and Spooner stifled many St Albans attacks and saves from Sandra Mackay stopped the opposition converting any of their chances. Some great work from Tracey Caddock on the left wing kept Sudbury pushing forward and due to this and hard work from the rest of the midfield Sudbury managed to win a number of short corners. Sudbury were looking particularly dangerous on the right wing where Colton and Stephens sent balls into space which allowed a number of players to make attacking runs. From one of these attacks a block tackle from Shepherdson allowed Colton to pick up the loose ball and drive it into the D. After creating some space for the shot she hit the ball from a narrow angle past the St Albans keeper. Sudbury continued to apply pressure and despite a number of short corners and shots they were unable to add any more goals but 3-0 was a deserved victory. Player of the match went to Chloe Mills for her continued hard work around the pitch.

Lowestoft ladies 3rd X1 1 - 2 Sudbury Ladies 4th X1

With 2 first choice defenders absent and only 10 players’ available Sudbury knew they would be in for a tough visit to Lowestoft.

Sudbury started brightly enough, enjoying most of the opening attacking play, but with several players in unfamiliar positions they struggled to settle into their rhythm and started to find themselves pushed back into their own half.

Lowestoft opened the scoring mid-way through the first half when a poorly defended short corner resulted in a fine strike which gave goalkeeper Peggy Bridges no chance. Sudbury defenders Jaclyn Taylor, Jessica Kendell, Lily Chiang and Ellie Bailey worked hard to keep this the score-line until half-time.

Following a tough team talk by Captain Maria Risley, Sudbury regrouped in the second half and started to spread the ball wider with Molly May and Celia Fitch – Holland dominating play down the wings. Their persistence paid off with a short corner of their own which was collected by the in-form Alice King who fired an unstoppable shot past the opposition keeper.

A period of exciting end to end play ensued until another Sudbury short corner produced a goalmouth scramble and Hannah Joy was on hand to prod the ball home.

Sudbury went looking to increase their lead and should have done so late on, with the ball in the D and plenty of players forward; an excellent triple save by the Lowestoft keeper denied the Sudbury attack a deserved goal.

Player of the match went jointly to Alice King and Jessica Kendell

Old Buckenham Ladies 6 - 2 Sudbury Ladies 2nd X1

Buoyed by their first league win of the season last week the team were up for this relegation battle and made the better start of the two sides.  Sudbury early on created some chances through runs from Becky Spencer and Florrie Barber who set up Debbie King but the chances glanced either wide or were mopped up by the Old Buckenham keeper.  10 minutes in Sarah Wordley took a knock to the knee and limped off for some respite.  Old Buckneham seemed to exploit the change in formation in the Sudbury defence and in a 10 minute spell scored 3 goals from open play.  Stunned by the goal onslaught Sudbury bedded in a played deep to prevent further goal leakage and the score was held at 3-0 until half time.  At the start of the second half Sudbury again looked the stronger side and Debbie King scored from open play, with a well struck shot from the top of the D to reduce the deficit.  Sudbury pushed and had chances to make it 3-2 but it just wasn’t their day in front of goal and Old Buck scored from a break to restore their three goal advantage (4-1). Heads dropped slightly and the momentum was with Old Buck who scored a further two goals to make it a convincing victory for them.  Disappointment for Sudbury who now need to win their final two games to have any hope of retaining their Div 2North East spot.