Energy, Etiquette and Even more of a gap

Fairbrother’s fun fact this week, how many muscles does your tongue have?

Now if you thought parking at Wyndley on a Saturday lunch time was bad you should definitely not go to Gloucester. However, it did provide great foreshadowing for the game as there was one way traffic, little space and Manning blocking the way.

Sutton weren’t banished to the shed this time, so the concerns around flooding were gone. However, we still had to have the team talk in a corridor. So swings and roundabouts.

Gloucester didn’t start well as one of their players picked up a head injury during their warm-up. After receiving speedy first aird she was able to play the game though, and was clearly one of their better players.

On top of that though, despite a well planned out press Gloucester were unable to pin Sutton back too much. Early counters came from all angles and Carpay realised she was going to have an easy day.

McCabe now warmed up on her reverse, scored her second in two weeks. Shocking we know. However, that was the only thing of note to happen in the first quarter as it was all a bit average.

And to prove it, the girls received a quarter time telling off. Which definitely kicked the mighty pinks into gear two and above.

Gloucester also came out fighting, hacking down anything in their way. They had a few flurries, but nothing that BM and Sue couldn’t handle. And the pace of Mollie, Freya and Flo down the right was unstoppable. In fact the only way they could stop Freya was with an unfortunate off feet tackle (she slipped), earning the home team the loss of a player for 10 minutes.

Despite their problems converting them as of late, Sutton kept winning penalty corners. Manning did a bit of juggling and won a reward, that on the stroke of half time Vicky put away a beautiful danger push. 2-0 at the big break.

The third quarter then came and went. It was a bit more back and forth but nothing to write home about.

The fourth quarter though, well that saw another goal and some more cards. BP was not to be outdone and despite standing still, on her own, on the left for mist of the second half she sprung into action firing home a signature reverse flourish. 3-0. She did then follow that up with a green card for not being five, clearly the excitement of getting involved was all too much.

Gloucester picked up another yellow for their tackling as Flo was taken out at the halfway line. But that was that.

Another three points and with Durham and Buckingham’s fixture postponed due to Buckingham’s Indoor Euros, Sutton go five points clear. The mighty pinks have now also matched their goal scoring tally from last season with four games to go.

POM went to BM for another outstanding display in the middle commanding the pitch and DOD went to (can’t remember actually I think Freya). Fairbrother’s fun fact answer was eight and I’m pretty sure at least one of you reading this is trying to figure out where all of them are in your tongue.

Back home next week to face the mighty Wakefield who are in the tightly contested relegation battle.