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Sutton produced a competent performance against the newly formed AFC Wimbledon to run out 4-0 winners but it is little assurance of a good season given that the opposition will ply their trade several leagues below the U’s this season. A bumper crowd of 4,657 watched the match, the United and Wimbledon fans joined by "supporters of football" eager to show their support for the Wombles' cause - it is time for the fans to reclaim football from the money-men. The queues at both sets of turnstiles resulted in a half hour delay to the proceedings, filled in most part by a rather lengthy introduction to the Wimbledon squad - "You’ve heard of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho," said the announcer, "now welcome... Trigger!" When the match finally got underway, the travelling fans created a superb atmosphere - "Are you watching Raynes Park Vale?" without a doubt the best of the chants, but the first half remained goal less, thanks In the most part to some lack-lustre finishing by U’s front men Matt Fowler and returning United legend Matt Hanlan but also due TO a superb diving save from Tommy Dunn. AFC Wimbledon thought they had broken the deadlock but the referee’s whistle prevented them from celebrating their first ever goal. Half-time: U’s 0 - Wombles 0. Sutton took control in the second half, each goal being greeted with an almost apologetic silence as the U’s fans found it difficult to make any impressionable difference to the noise level. Kevin Cooper opened the scoring for United in the 52nd minute, shooting from outside the area for his first U’s goal. Sutton’s second was again from outside the box, although the scorer remains a mystery and was quickly followed by a third, Cooper sliding the ball past the goalkeeper when one-on-one. Fowler rounded off the evening with his obligatory friendly goal by curling the ball delightfully into the top corner for a final score of U’s 4 - Wombles 0. The result, of course, was never the important part of this match - It was a celebration of what fans can achieve for their club. In a matter of weeks a new and ‘real’ Wimbledon has risen from the ashes of franchise football, thanks to some generous funding and superb season ticket sales. From The Lane wish AFC Wimbledon a speedy return to their hometown (one of their aspirations) and hope to entertain them again at Gander Green Lane in the near future, maybe even at Ryman Premier standard, if their progression up the leagues is as swift as they hope. Out of the new boys, Cooper impressed the most, netting twice on his debut. Hopefully his form is a taste of things to come... Several key players were missing for United, though, the departed Stuart Hammonds and Rob Haworth have been followed out of the club by Eddie Akuamoah, who has joined Bromley, and Phil Wingfield, who has begun a fourth spell down the road at Kingsmeadow. This would appear to leave the U’s vastly short of experience in the side - perhaps the reason for the return of Hanlan - and it is evident that the youngsters will be expected to rise to the occasion once again this season. John Rains, speaking to the Sutton Comet has urged the fans to be patient with the players - another hard mid-table season may be in the offing, rather than the top six finish our best football of last year indicated we could achieve. 
Top, AFC Wimbledon kick off their existance in front of a bumper crowd. Bottom, The two sides take the crowd's applause at the final whistle. Sutton v Leicester City (16/07/02) In their first fixture of the week against first Division opposition, United went down by four goals to nil. The U’s created very few chances in the entire match but held out until the 42nd minute when the full-strength Leicester line-up fortunately took the lead when a shot rebounded off the legs of the Leicester forward following a fine save from Tommy Dunn. In the second-half, Leicester replaced most of their big names and the young line-up looked eager to impress, causing many more problems for the United defence. As Sutton continued to make no impact in the visitors half, Leicester eventually added a further three goals including one penalty following a handball by Lewis Gonsalves. It was a disappointing match for the U’s and they’ll hope for a better performance when they take on Brighton & Hove Albion on Thursday.
Right, Kevin Cooper skips past Matt Elliot. Sutton v Brighton & Hove Albion (18/07/02) This match saw the return of one of the U's legends Paul 'Curly' Rogers. The first half saw Sutton finding chances difficult to come by as we didn't seem to push up and pressurise them at all. In contrast Brighton found space all over the pitch and at one point managed to string at least 30 passes together. However they also could not hit the target. The closest we came was when a defender almost managed to lob his own keeper, but somehow the Brighton goalie managed to push the goal-ward ball over his bar. With a completely different eleven for the second half Brighton again started to put on the pressure, it eventually paid off when a clever ball was chipped into the box and found a man in the clear who fired it past the helpless Tommy Dunn. Minutes later a similar chance arose but on this occasion Dunn was equal to it and pulled off an amazing save. Sutton failed to make any clear cut chances in the remainder of the half and in the end it finished 1-0 to the Seagulls. Sutton v Carshalton Athletic (06/08/02) In a dismal performance, United were beaten by three goals to one by local rivals Carshalton. The only positive note for U’s fans is that it could have been much worse had the Robins front men not squandered so many chances before Matt Hanlan gave Sutton a surprise lead on the stroke of half-time. After good work on the left by Scott Corbett, the ball found its way to Hanlan who controlled it near to the penalty spot and his shot on the turn went straight through the goalkeeper’s legs. It was United’s first real chance of the game, an inability to open-up the Carshalton defence leaving Danny Bolt with little option but to hit hopeful thirty-yarders when he was able to break from midfield. An eleven minute spell soon after half-time turned the scoreline 3-1 in Carshalton’s favour, the home side capitalising on some disorganised defending to hit United with three quick goals. The U’s continued to create little in the way of chances but Hanlan almost pulled a goal back late on, his effort when one on one with the goalkeeper rebounding off the post and across the goal-line. Final score: U’s 1, Carshalton 3. For a positive spin on things, we should remember not to hold too much stock on pre-season form – last year, following an encouraging series of friendlies we were a quarter of a way through the league season before we decided to win a game. That said, with the season fast approaching we need to see United produce a competent performance when they face a Crystal Palace eleven at the Lane on Saturday. Team: Dunn, Holland, Shannon, Beale, Palmer, Honey, Bolt, Corbett, Gray (Timothy), Hanlan, Bailey. Goal: Hanlan. 
Above, Nick Bailey contests a header. |
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