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Sutton drew 2-2 in a game where both teams had chances to take all three points. Sutton’s first decent chance came when a flick from the outside of Haworth’s boot sent Matt Gray scuttling down the right wing to whip in a teasing cross. Unfortunately Phil Wingfield, who was lurking at the back post, managed to put it just the wrong side of the upright. Billericay took the lead minutes later. Sutton promptly drew level when a cross from the right found the head of Wingfield despite him being caught between Haworth and two Billericay defenders. The U’s took the lead shortly before half time when, from a corner, Michael “Mighty” Mison was clinically scythed down whilst trying to lay the ball back. Rob Haworth rightly converted the penalty. The second half was much of a muchness with both teams having a similar amount of possession. However, only Billericay could capitalise on theirs. They managed to draw level when Timothy was beaten on the right side and the resulting layback was struck, unfortunately, very sweetly past a helpless Tommy Dunn. Later on, Dunn managed to keep it all square with an excellent one on one save and several important claimed crosses. Sutton’s best chance of the second half occurred when Mison seemed to defy gravity to meet a Wingfield corner. However, a well-placed Billericay defender managed to clear the defender’s powerful header off the line. Overall, Sutton’s performance was steady at times and then shaky when it mattered. However compared with the start we had to the season we show increasing promise as the youngsters in the side grow in confidence with each match. This was shown with some darting runs from Gonsalves, some great saves and catches from Dunn, a commanding performance in midfield from Honey and the quick feet and vision of Gray. Team: Dunn, Timothy, Gonsalves, R Palmer, Mison, Honey, Corbett, Wingfield, Gray, Haworth, Akuamoah (Fowler). Goals: Wingfield, Haworth (pen) U's v Grays (15/01/02) Very disappointing. Sutton 1, Grays 7. Team: Dunn, Timothy, Gonsalves, R Palmer, Mison (Hammonds), Honey, Corbett, Gray, J Palmer (Fowler), Haworth, Akuamoah Goal: Haworth U's v Westfield (29/01/02) Sutton win 2-0 in the fourth round of the Surrey Senior Cup. This game brought lowly Westfield to the Lane. Westfield, who are four divisions below us, put up a spirited performance and didn't give up easily even after going one down just before half time. A through ball from the midfield split the Westfield defence and allowed a calm Haworth, under pressure from chasing defenders, to slot the ball past the advancing keeper. The second half saw Sutton have several great chances only to be denied by the on form Westfield keeper. The Westfield spirit was typified by their left back whose frustration at the second U's goal was all too visible. Akuamoah's goal gave Sutton a bit more breathing space, although the determined Westfield side still didn't give up. In the last few minutes the Westfield keeper pulled off a tremendous save from a U's free-kick that was a good 5-10 yards outside the box. He saw it really late and still managed to cover some considerable ground to tip it wide. In the end though the U's progressed into the 5th round of the cup. Team: Dunn, Timothy, Gonsalves, R Palmer, Mison, Hammonds, Honey, Gray, Wingfield, Haworth, Akuamoah Goals: Haworth, Akuamoah U's v Maidenhead (09/02/02) A battling last fifteen minutes saw Sutton take all three points with a 2-1 victory. The first half saw Maidenhead scrape into the lead, five minutes before half time, when the U’s defence stood still appealing for what seemed like a blatant off side. The visitors striker made no mistake and put the ball past Dunn. The second half came alive in the last 15 minutes with U’s gaining increasing possession. Sutton’s first chance in this period was a volley from outside of the box by Fowler, which went narrowly wide of the right hand upright. Then minutes later Akuamoah beat his man on the left wing, made the by line and sent in a looping cross. With Sutton players literally lining up to put it away, it was Dave Timothy who rose majestically from the crowd of players in the six yard box to head it home. This was the turning point, minutes a deep searching ball skimmed off the head of a Maidenhead player and skidded off for a corner. Up stepped Akuamoah who put a low cross in towards the penalty spot, it flicked off the outside of a defenders foot, and was forced through the crowd by the sliding ‘Mighty’ Mison. Who was obviously really pleased to have scored, as he celebrated by removing his shirt and shouting Stuart Pearce style. On the final whistle the ground was filled with one or the loudest roars i've heard since we were promoted to the Conference. On the down side, the Maidenhead players seemed to have no idea of what a legal challenge was, which was only aided by the fact that neither the linesmen or the referee knew what an illegal challenge was. At one point a Maidenhead player who was pushed away from Dave Timothy by Paul Honey, raised his hands to Honey. An automatic sending off in every league in the world, except the Ryman league obviously. The game was also marred by a couple of bookins for each side and several bookable challenges by Maidenhead players that went completely unnoticed. Team: Dunn, Gonsalves (Fowler), Mison, R. Palmer, Hammonds, Timothy, Corbett, Honey, Wingfield (Gray), Haworth, Akuamoah. Sub not used: Bailey Goals: Timothy, Mison |
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