Sutton Coldfield lose out at Loughborough

It was a late starting game at the well known Loughborough university water based pitch. Known as a brilliant, yet unforgiving bouncy pitch, Loughborough Town are well used to this surface and put Sutton to the test. Sutton Coldfield played well and rose to the challenge, however were always chasing the game. It was Loughborough Town who drew first blood but Sutton maintained composure and responded with a goal from a break away. It was Town who had the advantage at half time however as they went into the lead once more. Sutton kept fighting and had their best passage of play early in the second half. There was some fluid hockey and excellent attacking play from Sutton, but Loughborough always managed to keep Sutton at arms length. At 3-3 it looked like Sutton might manage to gain the lead for the first time, but some good play from the Town forwards along the baseline undid the Sutton defence. At 4-3 down Sutton pressed hard and threw everything they had at the Town defence. Loughborough Town held their nerve and defended well. Eventually the high press was Sutton's undoing and Town finished Sutton off with a final nail in the coffin. This was a good game of hockey from both sides and Sutton will be disappointed not to get anything out of it. But it was a respectful performance and included a hat-trick from Sutton 2s veteran Jake Nicholls - well done Jake.