Post by trev on Aug 6, 2019 12:53:01 GMT
What a difference a season makes! At the start of last season, there were three divisions separating SUFC Women from Luton Town Ladies. By the season's end, SUFC Women finished champions of the Greater London Women's Football League Division One, and Luton Town Ladies finished bottom of the FA Women's National league Decision 1 SE.
Now, on the cusp of a new season, just one division separates the two sides. Sutton will ply their trade in the 6th tier and Luton in the 5th.
With this in mind, I was interested to see whether the U's would manage to hold their own against a side used to playing at a higher level.
The 2pm kickoff was delayed about 20 minutes, with Luton Ladies seemingly struggling to field a full side, with just one player on the subs bench...
Eventually, things got underway and within minutes it was very clear that SUFC were not about to be overawed by Luton. After a quality finish from our number 19, it was 1-0 Sutton with just 6 minutes gone.
Around fifteen minutes later, Luton's number 4 levelled proceedings with a fortuitous shot from distance that deflected off another player.
Two minutes thereafter, it was very nearly 2-1 Sutton after Luton's keeper saved onto the crossbar from a free kick taken just outside the area.
Towards the close of the first half, it was Luton who almost nosed in front after a counter-attack saw their number 10 loft a shot just over our bar.
Just before the half time whistle, it was our number 10 who launched a cracking shot which bounced off the top of Luton's woodwork.
After a tight, competitive first half, 1-1 was about right although we probably edged the half on chances.
The second half was a slightly less intense affair, with Luton scoring about 20 minutes in after a well battled goal against the run of play.
Five minutes later, Luton struck the upright and we were almost facing a two goal deficit.
Just one minute later, our number 19 finished exquisitely on the turn after receiving a deftly lofted pass from our number 10 to make it 2-2.
Unfortunately, two minutes thereafter we were exposed on the counter with a neatly slotted shot into the corner of the net to make it 3-2 Luton.
A delightful pass from our number 21, who weaved her way tirelessly along the wing, found our number 10 in the box but her shot was straight at the keeper. Anywhere either side and it would have been 3 apiece.
In spite of her quality finishing for both Sutton's goals, our number 19 was subbed off, denying her the chance of netting a hat-trick.
Our number 21, who was player of the match for me, continued to work the ball well down the flank, consistently getting the better of her counterpart, but unfortunately it wasn't enough to get us the draw we deserved.
So a highly creditable 3-2 defeat it was, to a higher division side.
I'm looking forward to seeing our women in action in the Greater London Women's Football League Premier Division when the new season starts next month. On the basis of Sunday's showing there's no reason why they shouldn't have aspirations of securing a third successive promotion. Unlike Luton Ladies, SUFC Women are very much a team on an upward trajectory...
In the meantime, I've pencilled Sunday 1 September in my diary - that's when SUFC Women face Islington Borough in the Preliminary Round of the FA cup. Kickoff 2pm. Islington currently play in the 7th tier so we should be favourites for that one...