With 16 adult sides - including the Ladies 1st XI in the Slazenger England League Premier Division and the men in the DTZ League, the top Midlands mens' event - Sutton Coldfield justifiably claim to be one of the region's best hockey clubs. Club members report on recent matches here. Sutton 1st XI 4-2 Mansfield (DTZ Mids Prem) Feb 24 The Mansfield game was particularly enjoyable for all those involved as Sutton were not at full strength. This resulted in the team playing their best brand of hockey, attacking and exciting while pressuring their opponents through sheer hard work and a strong team ethic.
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Sutton were up one-nil at half time but managed to extend their lead to four-nil after goals from Richard Nicklin, Anton Lea, Mark James and Ali Smith. Lea and James were particularly impressive, terrorising the opposition defence with their combination of pace and intelligent running. At four-nil the game was won and conceding two goals was of little concern to a jubilant Sutton side who were ecstatic to have put a major dent in Mansfield’s title hopes. There is a downside to the victory though - it does mean they will have to be played again next season reports Jonathan Ward. Melton 4th XI 2-6 Sutton 6th XI Feb 24 This was arguably Sutton's best performance of the season to date. Noel Philpotts and Adam Hargreaves took control of midfield from the off and man-of- the- match Bruce Halfpenny proved too much of a handful for the home defence. A resurgent Chris Ball added va va voom on the left with Andy Lane splitting the Melton defence with surging runs down the right. The experimental partnership of Pat Thomas and Mark Reid proved formidable. Pat Finegan did well but tended to croak as the game went on. Tony Smith did well to hold a lively left winger. Bruce Halfpenny netted twice while Ken Barratt, Pat Finegan, Adam Hargreaves and Chris Ball completed what was an excellent day at the office says Ken Barratt. Sutton Ladies 3rd Xl 2-6 Birmingham Ladies Feb 24
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Sutton suffered their second defeat in as many weeks. Despite some good attacking play, Sutton could not break down the Uni defence and fell behind to a goal scored from open play. Birmingham soon added two more from well executed corners and Sutton went into half time three goals down. The second half saw a change in positions and this tactic worked as Birmingham were caught on the back foot with Sutton piling on the pressure. This was soon rewarded when Sutton broke and Sarah Finigan found Joe Pitt on the left post who coolly slotted the ball home to make it three-one. This panicked the Uni team for a spell but Sutton were unable to capitalize. The defence and halves worked hard in the second half and girl of the game Laurie Wilson constantly foiled their attempts on goal. The second half was a more even affair but the difference between the two teams was the Uni side's corner routine which led to a further three goals. Undeterred, Sutton continued to work hard and were rewarded with a short corner late into the second half which was fired home into the right hand corner by Simone Richardson. The score line did not reflect how Sutton played but the Uni side were the better team on the day. Sutton can take a lot away from the game and build on it for their remaining games writes Simone Richardson. Edgbaston 2-3 Sutton 1st XI (DTZ Mids Prem) Feb 17 Sutton started the brighter of the two sides and deservedly took the lead when a hard cross from the right took two deflections before hitting the backboard - Richard Nicklin getting the final touch. For 15 minutes, Sutton continued to play simple but effective hockey, passing the ball around a floundering Edgbaston side desperately trying to catch up with the pace of the game. The pressure led to a penalty corner, duly converted after a James Maxwell strike rebounded to Oliver Westbrook. It looked as though Sutton could have won the game handsomely but that is not the Sutton way. Eventually, a penalty corner was converted and Sutton went into the break two-one ahead. Both sides created opportunities without threatening to score until Louis Yates stepped forward, shouldered the responsibility and shot across the oncoming keeper into the back of the goal. Edgbaston did manage a consolation goal but Sutton held on for an important victory to move one place up the table reports Peter Rowley. Sutton Strollers 3-1 Mansfield (EHN Mixed Cup 2) Feb 17 The Strollers continued their strong start to the cup campaign with a comfortable victory over arch-rivals Mansfield. Sutton dominated the game throughout with some outstanding team play to which Mansfield simply had no answer. The first half looked likely to end goalless but Ollie Westbrook walloped home going into the break. Mansfield failed to realise that passing to their women would be of any benefit hence the game became eleven against six. Despite this, Mansfield levelled the scoring with a well taken drag flick. Spurred into life, Sutton stormed forward with Claire Barnes and Claire Rushe tormenting the visitors and it was only a matter of time before the second goal came via Aly Smith's deflection writes Matt Taylor. Sutton Ladies 4th XI 4-1 Jaguar 2nd XI Feb 17 Half-term meant there were numerous absences from the usual fourth team but the players called up fitted into the team well. Sutton dominated the first half with Angie Evans, Sally Jeffries and Claire Wright breaking down Jaguar's attacks early and setting up new attacks for Amy Perrow, Louise Evans and Janet Rushe who created several (unconverted) penalty corners. Amy opened the scoring and Louise followed up with a second goal - both from well-crafted team build-up. Prior to half-time, Louise had a goal disallowed and Janet Rushe only just failed to score a spectacular diving reverse-stick goal. Sutton started the second half confidently, but without the same level of concentration on display in the first. This enabled Jaguar to have a few more attacks but these were mopped up well at the back by Kathryn Shilliday, Kim Patford, Alex Wadeson and Laura Ayre who also provided some superb attacking play by supporting Lauren Storer on the right. Jaguar were able to beat the keeper just once and this brought the concentration back. Sutton continued to attack with Vicki Sidwell playing well on the left and eventually Louise was able to score her second goal in a well-deserved win says Claire Wright. Chesterfield 2-2 Sutton 3rd XI (DTZ East Prem) Feb 3 Sutton registered their first point in the second half of the league season with the final score reflecting Sutton's slightly apathetic approach to a game they probably should have won. Chesterfield started the brighter putting the Sutton goal under pressure early on but Sutton had the first clear cut chance of the game with Eddie Ingram and Dan Harris combining to send Anthony Czaicki through one on one with the keeper. The ball rebounded to Ian Harding who fired the ball towards the unguarded net only to see the Chesterfield sweeper clear the ball off the line. Chesterfield opened their account soon after this early scare following a scramble in the D and this was the only time the back line looked troubled. Keeper Bill "The Planet" Heywood was imperious between the sticks and James Pugh and Robert Finegan had all under control. Sutton pressed hard and Chesterfield started to rock and eventually Sutton scored after Ali James fluffed two back post chances and Czaicki had a fierce air-shot disallowed Andrew Millman intercepted an out ball and immediately sent Harding through who slipped the ball past the on rushing keeper to make it one-all at half time. Sutton started the second period as they have done all season - shakily: it's as if the water contains some sort of relaxant! Passes went astray and Chesterfield capitalized by slotting a corner home. Sutton then set to work - starting to put passes together and showing more urgency - frustratingly this only showed what they are capable of. Dave Williams at left back started to settle on his debut, Czaicki saw a second air-shot ruled out and Sutton drew a series of short corners, one of which Harding managed to drive home. A draw is how it ended on a bright day and hopefully Sutton have turned a corner as they face Burton on Saturday with nothing but a victory acceptable to skipper Harris reports Ian Harding. Sutton 6th XI 2-1 Leicester 4th XI February 3 Sutton continue to hold their own against teams who, on paper, should be of a higher class. A revamped midfield of Andy Hartshorne, Martin Gore, Andy Lane and Nigel Cox-Howard took some time to settle but eventually began to get the upper hand against a youthful opposition. Late signing, Bruce Halfpenny, was a revelation, combining well with a revitalised Pat Finegan. Sutton failed to make the most of their territorial advantage until late in the first-half when skipper Ken Barratt pounced on a loose ball to give the home team the lead. One defensive lapse allowed Leicester back into the game with the only blip on what had been an excellent rearguard performance by Tony Smith, Pat Thomas and Kev Tredwell as Jayson Burns was dominant in goal. A top-notch umpiring decision led to Sutton deservedly being awarded a flick in the dying seconds. Bruce Halfpenny manfully stepped up and slotted the ball past a sprawling keeper to shoot Sutton into the promotion race writes Ken Barratt. Sutton Ladies 3rd XI 4-0 Stratford 4th XI February 3 Sutton took the game to Stratford, creating chance after chance but being denied by the Stratford keeper. Undeterred, Sutton continued to pile on the pressure and good work rate and passing soon paid off when Sarah Finigan found the back of the net after being set up by Chloe Vaughan. This was soon followed by a second from Chloe Vaughan who fired home from close range after being set up by Sarah. The second half saw Sutton continue to dominate, girl of the game Chelsea Orr and Fiona Maxwell combined well and worked hard in midfield to feed the forwards. Another great goal from Chloe brought the tally to three. A fourth was added after Sutton won a short corner; the ball was sent to Sarah Finigan who slipped it left and was slammed home by Simone Richardson. This was another excellent team performance with good work rate by the whole team says Simone Richardson. | 
