The RRG Toyota Silsden sponsored Sutton 14 B were looking to do the double over a Bingley side who were there for a beating. After playing them off the park in the away fixture The Yellows should have been full of confidence going into this game. Sutton were attacking the Clayton Hall end in the 1st half although they didn’t do much attacking as they were really slow out of the blocks. The Yellows had to ring the changes with a couple of players missing but this was no excuse for what was a very lacklustre 1st half performance. There were some good moments as Reece Bithell and Brett Parkin linked up well down the right side and Callum Filkin looked dangerous down the left. Unfortunately despite some good play they didn’t create any clear chances for Chloe Hodge who was playing as the lone striker. Bingley took the lead after they had won a corner after 7 minutes and unfortunately Sutton were once again caught ball watching as the cross bobbled along the 6 yard box and the Bingley midfielder had all the time in the world to pick his spot giving Leon no chance. The visitors could have added more goals but for some good last ditch defending from Thomas Harrison, Reece Bithell, Greg Riddiough and Charlie Crook. Both Reece and Thomas were having good games as they were kept busy. Reece switched to centre back as Thomas switched to the right so Sutton could deal with the threat of Bingley’s tall centre forward. The home side thought they’d pulled level 3 minutes before half time as Ewan Hanbury-Wallace beat the keeper only to see his shot hit the side netting. Somehow Sutton were only 0 v 1 down at half time but they had their defence and keeper to thank for that. The Yellows came out for the 2nd half looking like a totally different team after having a good long talking to at half time. In fact Bingley were left waiting a couple of minutes as they received their telling off! Sutton were now playing fast flowing football taking quick dead balls to keep up the momentum. This had the desired effect as both Callum and Chloe went close to scoring early in the 2nd half. Unfortunately though it was the visitors who scored 1st much against the run of play. The Reds had a speculative shot from outside the area which took a lucky deflection and flew over Leon into the top corner of the goal. Sutton really didn’t deserve that after how they had played in the first 5 minutes of that 2nd half. The Yellows didn’t let their heads drop though and carried on working hard and making sure they were 1st to every ball. 12 minutes into the 2nd half and they were back in the game as a good through ball found Chloe who's shot was well saved but the ball fell to Ewan on the edge of the area and he smashed his shot onto the cross bar. This time the ball landed at the feet of Jacob Stephens who's well struck shot flew into the net for his 1st ever goal for Sutton Juniors. At 1 v 2 Bingley were rattled and they were starting to argue with the ref and their own coach. 2 minutes later and Chloe was through again as she chased down a through ball she lobbed the advancing Bingley stopper and just when it looked the game would be all square a Bingley defender chased back and cleared off the line. It’s a shame we don’t have goal line technology as I’m sure the whole of the ball had crossed the whole of the line but the ref made what was probably the sensible decision of no goal. Callum then went close twice more as he caused panic in the visitors defence but both shots missed the target. Sutton were well on top now and it was surly only a matter of time before they would pull level. With 7 minutes remaining Ewan was 1st to a clearance and he drove down the centre of the pitch from the edge of the centre circle. He went past half of the opposition players as he made his way to the edge of the penalty area. He then had sight of goal and curled his powerful shot past the keeper and into the goal. What a goal and it was only what Sutton deserved. The Yellows were now looking for the winner and both James Kitson and Callum went close to giving Sutton the lead. With 3 minutes remaining Bingley went on the counter and won a corner which Sutton failed to deal with and Bingley regained the lead. For about the only time in that 2nd half Sutton switched off and they were made to pay with 32 minutes gone in the second half they were now 2 v 3 down. A minute later Chloe took on the defence again and outmuscled 3 defenders to get a good shot away but the visitors keeper pulled off an amazing save to deny Sutton a point. Bingley then went up the other end and what ever the Bingley keeper could do Leon Jashenica can do better as he pulled off an absolutely amazing save. The Yellows kept going til the end but just couldn’t find the equaliser. The finished in a defeat but Sutton had themselves to blame for that poor 1st half performance. The 2nd half though was brilliant and they deserved much more. The RRG Toyota Silsden player of the week goes to Thomas Harrison for his none stop battling in defence and some good forward runs. Thomas is getting back to his best.

Sutton were looking at making it 2 wins on the trot for the 1st time this season and they were able to field the same 11 that had started the previous week at Silsden. In the previous meeting between Sutton and Salts the visitors came out on top after a spate of injuries during the 2nd half ruined The Yellows day. This time it was more the weather and the fact that Salts played the very testing conditions better than Sutton. After a very promising 1st half when Sutton more than matched their opponents the 2nd half went badly wrong. With gale force winds driving across the pitch it was going to be very difficult to play football but to both teams managed to serve up a very entertaining 1st half of football. Salts took the lead after 5 minutes with a very scruffy effort which bobbled over Leon Jashanica's hands and trickled into the goal. Leon didn’t let this affect him which he never does and he was soon called into action again as he pulled off a cracking save diving to his right and turned the ball round the post. Sutton then went close themselves after good work from Callum Filkin and Chloe Hodge but unfortunately striker Jacob Stephens saw his shot drift inches wide of the post. Leon then made a string of top quality saves and denied the visitors with some clever one on ones. This keeper has come on so much this season and he keeps getting better as he’s learning his trade. The Yellows levelled things up on 18 minutes after substitute Matt Akrigg pounced on a back pass which sold the Salts keeper short. Matt chased it down and forced the keeper into an error which Matt took full advantage of to score a well taken goal. In this weather it was always going to be very difficult for Matt up front on his own as the supply was limited. Sutton created quite a few chances in the 1st half mainly through Callum and Brett Parkin but again it was always going to be difficult for the wide players to get quality balls into the box with the wind affecting everything they did. The half finished 1 all and it looked like Sutton could be on their way to a 1st home victory of the season. Unfortunately the 2nd half went totally against The Yellows half time plans. Salts went on to score 6 unanswered goals on 3, 12, 21, 23, 24 and 25 2nd half minutes. The straw which inevitably broke the camel’s back was a big piece of look for the visitors as they sent in a cross from the left and it was turned in off the head of centre midfielder Ewan Hanbury-Wallace who couldn’t have done anything about it. That was after 12 minutes of the 2nd half and although Sutton didn’t let their heads drop it did knock the wind out of their sales (which considering the gale that was blowing it was no mean feat). The home side did come close to getting a goal or 2 back but it just wasn’t to be despite some good efforts from Matt, Chloe and Ewan. This wasn’t a bad performance by any means even though the 1 v 7 final score might suggest otherwise it was more that Salts played the conditions better in the 2nd half. The Player of The Week went to Leon Jashanica for some outstanding goalkeeping. Also special mention goes to birthday boy Reece Bithell who again played away from his usual position of CDM but he's making a name for himself at right back. Finally thank you to everyone for your efforts today in what can only be described as atrocious weather conditions.

Silsden Knights v Sutton 14 B 07/01/2019 Not only was today’s game the 1st of the new year but also the 1st game for a number of weeks after the previous 3 league games were postponed. Their last outing was the 10 v 1 away defeat to Burley in the league cup on the 25th November! The last time they trained was on the 14th December so we were half expecting a some what lethargic performance in this noon kick off against near neighbours Silsden. Forget the Merseyside derby or the north London version this is the REAL derby where only a victory will do. Silsden had most of the early possession but they couldn’t get passed the halfway line as the Yellows defenders and midfield stood strong. After the opening few minutes Sutton settled down and began to boss the game something that they did for the majority of the 70 minutes. The visitors took the lead early in the 1st half when an attempted clearance by Silsden fell to James Kitson on the edge of the penalty area. James took a touch then smashed it in to the top corner of the Silsden goal giving their keeper no chance. Sutton continued to press Silsden and push them backwards with Callum Filkin, Chloe Hodge and Brett Parkin creating chances for each other and for Jacob Stephen’s who was playing up front for the 1st time. It was the attacking combination that got Sutton there 2nd goal on 14 minutes. Ewan Hanbury-Wallace won the ball back in midfield and found Chloe in space. Chloe's quick thinking found Jacob who was charging into the penalty box with a lovely through ball. Just when you expected Jacob to shoot he fed Callum with a wonderful ball and great vision to pick him out on the left side of the area and Callum did the rest as he put the ball into the roof of the Silsden goal again giving their stopper no chance. With 15 minutes gone Sutton were cruising at 2 nil. Silsden finally managed to get into the visitors half and they forced their 1st corner of the game. Chloe looked to have cleared the corner as she headed it away only for the ball to strike the back of a home player there was then a scramble as Sutton tried several times to clear only to see the ball bounce back into the danger area until eventually the ball trickled over the line! I don’t think Silsden know who scored as no one had an actual shot it just deflected in to make it 1 v 2 after 17 minutes. This scoreline certainly flattered the home side who hadn’t really been in the game. With 10 minutes to go til half time Sutton won there 5th corner of the game and they sent both Greg Riddiough and right back Reece Bithell forward. James Kitson sent in the perfect cross for Reece to head into the net following a late run into the box. 1 v 3 after 25 minutes was the least Sutton deserved. Chloe, Ewan and Callum all went close to adding more goals as did substitute Matt Alrigg but the home keeper was on form and denied them with some good saves. Silsden did have another chance with a free kick just outside the Sutton penalty area but home striker Matt Holmes sent it high wide and handsome. The halftime whistle blew with Sutton in a fairly commanding lead of 1 v 3. The Yellows were reminded during the interval that Silsden wouldn't give in and unless they go out and pick it up again then they could be walking away with nothing. It’s happened before and we didn’t want it happening again. The visitors started the 2nd half slowly and Silsden were on the attack but they didn't create much apart from a few long shots which didn’t hit the target. Both teams were looking a bit tired in the 2nd half but that didn’t stop the Yellows from creating chances and Chloe forced yet another good save from the home keeper. Again Sutton made the switch by bringing on Matt Akrigg for Jacob Stephen's who had worked well up front. Matt was once again linking up well with Callum on the left and Brett on the right. Some of their inter passing was outstanding and the home team couldn’t handle them. One particular play saw Matt find Callum who put in a dangerous cross which went behind both Chloe and Brett. The ball ran through to Ewan on the right side and his great vision found Brett who had moved out to the right wing. Brett looked up and found Chloe on the edge of the penalty area where she took a touch to compose herself before sending the ball past the keeper to make it 1 v 4 with a wonderful finish. It was a top quality piece of play from the Sutton players and a well deserved goal. With 18 minutes still to play the game could have still gone either way but not today as Sutton continued to dominate and again Silsden had their keeper to thank for keeping the score down. Any attacks the home side did have were well dealt with by the Yellows defence were Greg, Thomas Harrison, Charlie Crook, Reece Bithell and Jack Greenwood all worked well to keep Leon's goal untroubled. With 5 minutes to go Jacob returned for Callum who had ran himself into the ground as usual. With about 2 minutes left Chloe had the ball in the Silsden area but instead of going for goal she squared the ball to Jacob to claim some glory but somehow he managed to sky his shot way over the bar from 3 yards out! That ball was last seen flying over Addingham! The home team did have 1 last attack but it went harmlessly wide for a goal kick and that was that as the ref blew for full time. A well deserved 4 v 1 victory for the Yellows. This week every player gets 10 out of 10 for a fantastic team performance on what was a very bumpy and heavy pitch. It was probably more suited to long balls but Sutton continued to play a quality passing game. Its difficult to single players out after such a good TEAM performance but I think both defensive midfielders deserve credit for their none stop running getting forward and back to help the defenders. The RRG Group Toyota Silsden sponsored Player of the referis Reece Bithell who was playing right back for the 1st time and scored with a header from a corner which is something we have worked on all season The opposition and referees Player of the Week is Chloe Hodge. As both said she has that extra bit of quality. Well done everyone enjoy the bragging rights at school next week.