Sting Under 14s recorded an historic first ever win at this age group on Sunday with a 3-2 comeback win against local rivals Nottingham Ice Cats.

The team full of novices worked hard all year but never quite managed to win a game.

With lots of hard work over the summer in training and with some new blood coming in from the Sting U12s from last year, the team now has lots to offer and they managed a 3-2 win against a Nottingham team who 12 months earlier had scored 16 goals against them.

Trailing 2-0 with only 15 minutes of the game remaining the Sting needed to find something in themselves to bring out in their play what they promise on paper.

The breakthrough was a magnificent individual goal from Callum Leaper which turned the game on its head.

Within minutes this was followed by a goal on his Sting debut by Jack Braidley.

Sting then wasted a five on three power play but as the final minutes counted down Leaper stepped in to grab their third goal and clinch the game.

Sutton chairman and U14s coach Ian Johnson said: “This was a hard fought game but a game which we dominated.

“My team owed it to themselves to win this game today, they have come a long way together over the past 18 months or so and I am thrilled for them and proud for our young club.”

Leaper was selected for the Sting’s Spirit of the Game Award.

l Sutton U16s travelled to Blackburn for their third game of the season and won 7-0.

Sting began the game well but had to wait until the last 25 seconds before Jordan Bodfield, assisted by Scott Haywood, grabbed the first goal.

The second period began and the play was fast with Blackburn making some great shots on the Sutton goal, and the main threat coming from Blackburn’s Alec Unden.

After soaking up the pressure Sutton began to show headway and a goal followed for Chris Dale on his Sting debut.

Blackburn made a change of netminder with Beatrice Fletcher going between the pipes.

As the game wore on the ferocity increased and in a battle around the Sting goal Sutton picked-up penalties and the Sting were forced to defend short-handed.

This didn’t seem to affect their control of the game and Bodfield scored with the Sting short-handed to give a 3-0 cushion going in to the final period.

In the third period the Sting pairing of Haywood and Bodfield in the first line produced some excellent play resulting in Haywood scoring twice.

Emma Allender, who continued to show great form, scored the sixth for the Sting.

A display of good teamwork and passing led to Aidan Hickling scoring Sutton’s seventh goal, assisted by Jack Anderson and James Newsome.

Sting 16s team manager Mark Radford said: “I’m new to ice hockey but I can tell you it is an infectious sport.