Sutton fielded eight U16s in their opening friendly fixture away to Olton on a hot September. The weather certainly played its part as Sutton dominated the first half - the first 15 minutes playing some outstanding passing hockey. Olton struggles to cope with the movement off the ball but weathered the early storm - Sutton's final ball not clinical enough to test the keeper.
Olton of course did then take the lead having restructured. New keeper Akash Dubb having made the initial save but helpless to prevent the follow-up play and subsequent tap-in.
At half time Sutton reiterated the pass and move that had so dominated but also added a level of game management in the hot weather that saw them return to dominate the game. Sutton drew level off one such play; recycling the ball from the corner and Sam Godsill feeding the skipper Ian Harding for his first field goal of the season. More Sutton pressure and a second goal came through the ever willing running of Sam Griffin.
Heat and fatigue did set in and the game became more open in the final 10-15 minutes and Olton had their chances to equalise. Matt Florida-James prevented the Olton striker from scoring an open goal and would probably have been sent for a think in a league fixture and the resulting PS was fired well wide - VAR kicked in and a retake for the keeper not having both feet on the line meant a retake. The result was unbelievably the same and Sutton closed the game out.
This was a promising display against a side who are in the equivalent division in the SW.