|
Allan
McLeod, injured in training on Thursday, was replaced in the
starting line up by Jason Pinnock, making the first change to
the team in five matches. Ex youth team player Callum Crawley
replaced Pinnock on the bench.
An
evenly matched first half saw Sutton apply spells of steady
pressure, whilst Tooting offered a more direct threat through
breakaway attacks. In the sixth minute Paul Vines put
wide a good headed opportunity from a Hamlin cross. Eight
minutes later Nicholls was brought into his first serious
action, scrambling away a low close range effort. Soon
after King was also diving low to keep out a turn and shoot
attempt from Bray.
After
26 minutes Myall, Vines and Pinnock combined well in the
Sutton area, but the move only resulted in a tame lob which
the keeper easily claimed. Both crossbars then saw
action with a rattling close range home header closely
followed by a Paul Vines effort, which rebounded and was
stabbed wide by a surprised Pinnock.
Sutton
again pressed as Collins put a shot high and wide. Shortly
before the break the doric figure of Joe Vines cut down a
Sutton attacker, conceding a free kick about 25 yards out and
collecting another Yellow. The resulting long range
strike brought a fine parried save from King and an even
better defensive block for a corner by Howell.
Half Time 0 -
0
Michael
Antonio played through an attempted assassination by Jackson
to win a corner. However, this bright opening proved to
be a false dawn as the home side started to take
control. Antonio and Vines kept the counter attack
threat alive with a couple of half chances, one only just
scooped off the line by a back pedalling Nicholls, but
the real action was at the other end.
The
Sutton opener was excellently finished, drilled low to Kings
left by Dunn, but the defending was comical as first Goode
and then Hamlin fell like ninepins in the forwards path.
Just to add to the oddity, the scorer was substituted before
the restart.
Byatt
and Muguo made way for Myall and the ineffective Pitterson,
but Sutton had the bit between their teeth and were not giving
the ball away. A post was hit and an extended goalmouth
melee somehow did not increase the lead. Substitute Hann
in particular was enjoying himself, forcing King into a couple
more fine saves and it was almost inevitable that he applied
the coup de grace a minute from the end with a simple tap
in.
TIme
to concentrate on the league!
|
