Sutton 2xi record their first league win of the season

This was clearly the best performance of the season to date; Sutton Coldfield records their first win of the season with a thrilling 2nd half performance against Coventry & North Warwick. From the start of play, Sutton Coldfield dominated possession and won a lot of turn over from the Cov & NW defence. Sutton Coldfield set a disciplined press and it paid off. However, despite some excellent play, the transfer lacked a little pace and when Sutton did penetrate the D; Sutton didn’t manage to get any convincing shots off. Sutton did win a rather dubious short corner, however the umpire was quick to penalise the stoppers stick being inside the D; the resulting goal from Sam Hardman was disallowed.

Towards the end of the 1st half, Cov & NW got some attacks going, a long corner and a poor tackle led to a short corner. Unfortunately for Sutton, the shot at goal bobbled somewhat and our defence were undone; 1-0 to Cov & NW at half time.

The goal against seemed to spur Sutton Coldfield. After a re-group at half time the side came out positive and with some excellent hard work put in by forwards and midfield a lot of turnover was won. Sensing Cov & NW going onto the back foot, Sutton seized the initiative and what followed was some of the best 2xi hockey of the season. Cov & NW couldn’t break through the Sutton press and Sutton countered with pace and conviction. Tom Peraton opened the scoring, slotting the ball past the keepers right hand side. This seemed to put the wind behind Peraton, who proceeded to chase the ball down hard and create further chances, scoring 2 more himself to earn a hat trick. Pete Davie (man of the match) in midfield won the ball for us time and again. Pete Davie drove forward in attack and released Ralph Brocklebank to score the 4th. Not long after another goal followed, Peraton hitting the post, the ball was then saved only as far as Lewis Chatham, who calmly stroked the ball in the net. At 5-1 Sutton seemed happy to consolidate, and held Cov & NW at arms-length. A final goal came from Damien Flemming, who picked the ball up with great skill and manoeuvred the ball into the goal to complete Sutton’s resounding victory. The side will take a lot of confidence from this performance, and hope to take this into the weeks to come.