2004/05 MATCH REPORTS
U’s v St. Albans City (14/08/04)
United’s Nationwide South campaign started 35 minutes late after St. Albans arrived at the ground at 3pm but the delay did not upset the visitors, who went on to win 2-1. Sutton’s fourteen man squad included eight summer signings, all of whom featured during the match.
Centre-back Bradley Thomas, on loan from Peterborough, almost marked his debut with a goal in the third minute when a free kick fell kindly for him in the box but his low volley went just wide of the left post.
After a quarter of an hour, United had another debutant to thank for keeping the scores level, when Phil Wilson dived at the feet of a striker to deny him a goal-scoring chance after a defensive mix-up had left him with a clear run at goal.
Minutes later Sutton again went close when Peter Fear drifted a free kick into the area, after a foul on Paul Honey, and Joff Vansittart rose highest to meet the ball but had to watch in despair as his header cannoned off the crossbar and rebounded to safety.
The U’s should have taken the lead with 28 minutes gone – Matt Gray began a good build up by passing the ball from the halfway line to Vansittart and he touched it off to Andrew Martin, who rolled a pass beyond the defence to Nigel Brake. With the goal at his mercy, one on one with the ‘keeper, Brake should have done better than allowing the goalie to knock the ball behind for a corner.
United’s defence looked suspect throughout the game, and contrived a chance for St. Albans after 35 minutes when Thomas’s clearance was deflected up in the air and Corbett misjudged the flight of the ball but the Saints’ striker who was first to it fired across the face of the goal and wide of the left post.
With half-time nearing, Sutton missed another golden opportunity when Fear chipped the ball over the defence to Brake. As the ball bounced up Brake could only get his head to it but if dropped nicely to Eddie Akuamoah with a clear site of goal, only for him to shoot straight at the ‘keeper. Half-time: U’s 0, St. Albans 0.
Vansittart proved to be a handful for the St. Albans back line and twice went close within the opening moments of the second half. A cross from the right by Gray was met by Vansittart, who out jumped the ‘keeper, but his header dropped just over the bar. Five minutes later, United’s front man worked space for himself on the right side of the area but shot high and wide of the target.
Having looked the better of the two sides, United were caught out by St. Albans in the 54th minute as their striker waltzed past two defenders and struck it firmly past Wilson, 0-1.
Wilson impressively prevented a second goal when he dived into a group of players to claim the ball but could do nothing about a St. Albans header from a corner with fifteen minutes left as it crashed into the underside of the bar and bounced down into the goal, 0-2.
John Rains responded to the second goal by making a triple substitution, introducing David Kennedy, Glenn Boosey and Stuart Booth for Martin, Brake and Craig Howard.
Sutton instantly looked more dangerous up front, with Boosey and Kennedy troubling the St. Albans defence as they ran at them with the ball at their feet. Within six minutes of coming on, Kennedy created a goal for Fear when he beat the ‘keeper to a looped ball into the area and hooked it over his shoulder to the middle of the area where Fear planted a header past the defender on the line from twelve yards out, 1-2 (83 mins).
Corbett had a chance to equalise in the final minute when Gray’s corner from the left found him at the back post but the ‘keeper smothered the United captain’s shot. Deep into injury time the match ended on a sour note for the U’s as Thomas was given his marching orders for a second yellow card. Full-time: U’s 1, St. Albans 2.
F-t-L Facts:
- Peter Fear’s goal ensured United have scored in their last fourteen competitive games.
- Current Form: LLDWDL (Scored 10, Conceded 9).
- Next Up: Away to Maidenhead United – Last Season 0-2.
Team: Wilson, Gray, Howard (Booth), Corbett, Thomas, Brake (Boosey), Fear, Honey, Vansittart, Martin (Kennedy), Akuamoah.
Goal: Fear (83).
Left, Phil Wilson rolls the ball to Matt Gray, who launches a counter attack.
Right, Joff Vansittart out jumps the 'keeper but his header goes over.
U’s v Maidenhead United (17/08/04)
Sutton travelled to Maidenhead on Tuesday night in search of a first win of the season. John Rains made a few changes to Saturday’s team, bringing in Stuart Booth, Glenn Boosey and David Kennedy for Craig Howard, Nigel Brake and Andrew Martin. There was also a spot on the bench for recent signing Kunle Olusesi.
After a slow start to the game, played out mostly in the middle third of the pitch it was Maidenhead who first tested either of the ‘keepers, capitalising on an error by Eddie Akuamoah to break into the box. But with a striker in acres of space near the penalty spot, the forward in possession chose to shoot himself from a tight angle and Phil Wilson saved at the near post.
United fought back immediately, and could well have taken the lead after twelve minutes only for Peter Fear’s guiding header from a Matt Gray left wing corner to cannon back off the right post.
The U’s continued to threaten and during a good spell Bradley Thomas had a header deflected behind and, from the resulting corner, Paul Honey forced a save from the ‘keeper with a firm shot from the edge of the area.
Just as United began to look in control, Maidenhead grabbed the lead after twenty minutes of play. Scott Corbett was unfairly bundled off the ball outside the area and a looping shot forced Wilson to back-pedal and tip the ball onto the bar but it dropped down into the area and Craig O’Connor headed it across the line from a yard out, 0-1.
What had been a promising half fizzled out into a lacklustre final twenty five minutes in which both sides rarely had a sight at goal. Thomas headed a free kick at the goalkeeper and Maidenhead should have made Wilson pay for a poor clearance but could not put on a shot on target and it was eventually comfortably cleared away. At the break: U’s 0, Maidenhead 1.
Wilson pulled off a great double save within minutes of the restart to prevent the hosts extending their lead and Sutton made it count by equalising after 54 minutes. A foul on Gray on the right wing allowed Fear to drift the dead ball towards the back post where Corbett angled a header back across goal and into the top right corner, 1-1.
The goal really brought the U’s to life and began a period of Sutton domination of the possession. Kennedy and Joff Vansittart combined effectively to create an opening for Gray on the hour mark but his shot from the edge of the area bobbled wide of the left post.
Five minutes later Gray pressurised a Maidenhead defender into slicing the ball off for a corner and the ball into the box caused chaos amongst the hosts’ defence but Fear could not test the ‘keeper with his volley at the back post.
Olusesi was introduced for Kennedy and made an instant impact when he used his explosive pace to chase a ball down the right wing and cross to Boosey near the penalty spot. The defence scrambled the ball away from Boosey but could only loop it just out of the area where Paul Honey ran in to slam a low volley into the bottom left corner, 2-1 (71 mins).
Boosey and Olusesi exchanged passes shortly afterwards and had the defence backing off but could not quite forge an opening.
With five minutes left Maidenhead forced Wilson into a full length dive but it proved unnecessary as the ball whizzed past the left angle and headed out of the ground.
Then, in the dying minutes, United were denied their first victory of the season when the linesman flagged for a penalty after an innocuous looking challenge by Thomas on the edge of the area. The Maidenhead striker tucked the ball out of Wilson’s reach to the bottom right corner to rob the U’s of all three points. Final score: U’s 2, Maidenhead 2.
F-t-L Facts:
- Scott Corbett’s goal was the first time he had netted in a competitive game for the U’s since scoring the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win away to Harrow on 4 January 2003.
- Current Form: WDWDLD (Scored 12, Conceded 8).
- Next Up: Away to Basingstoke - Last Season 5-0 (Quinton 3, J Nurse, Honey).
Team: Wilson, Gray, Booth, Thomas, Corbett, Boosey, Fear, Honey, Vansittart, Kennedy (Olusesi), Akuamoah. Subs (n/u) Brake, Martin, Howard.
Goals: Corbett (54), Honey (71).
Left, Peter Fear connects with a header but it goes on to hit the post.
Right, Bradley Thomas guides a free kick on target but his header is saved by the 'keeper.
U’s v Basingstoke Town (21/08/04)
After Tuesday’s travesty at Maidenhead, United travelled to Basingstoke’s Camrose ground in search of their first win of the season. There were more changes to the starting line-up as Lewis Gonsalves came in at centre back and Nigel Brake replaced Eddie Akuamoah on the left. With Stuart Booth beginning the game at right wing back, Matt Gray moved up-field to partner Joff Vansittart in attack and David Kennedy dropped to the bench.
With the game not even two minutes old, Gray could have given Sutton an early lead when Peter Fear’s long throw dropped near him in the middle of the box six yards out but he could only hook the ball over the bar.
Phil Wilson saved twice within two minutes before Bradley Thomas had a golden chance to open the scoring after fifteen minutes. Fear’s free kick from the right wing was cleared back to him but his second ball perfectly picked out Thomas at the back post, who faked a shot to beat the ‘keeper but his shot was deflected off the boot of a defender and behind for a corner.
Basingstoke continued to force Wilson into action and a three minute spell around the twenty minute mark produced a flurry of chances. After a lob over Wilson also cleared the goal, United’s number one held a firm header and then dived at the feet of an onrushing striker to claim the ball as they broke into the area following a good passing move.
On the half hour Gray almost produced a moment of magic when he curled a Vansittart lay off towards the top right corner from the edge of the area but the ‘keeper was equal to the effort and held onto the shot underneath the bar.
A period of Sutton pressure for the next ten minutes should have produced a goal when the ball fell kindly to Vansittart at the back post and he had time to bring it under control but still shot straight at the goalie.
With the half about to end, Basingstoke took the lead when a counter attack from inside their half saw the play spread to the right wing and although Wilson blocked the first shot after a low ball into the area, Martin Whiddet was first to the rebound and passed the ball into the net. Half-time: U’s 0, Basingstoke 1.
Sutton struggled to impose themselves during the second half and barely had a shot at goal. The hosts continued to threaten for a second, though, and hit the target nine minutes into the half only for the ball to cannon back off the left post after a bullet header from a left wing cross.
At points United’s defence almost gifted a goal to the hosts. A suicidal pass across the area gave a Basingstoke forward a clear run on goal but Wilson spared Sutton’s blushes by saving from point blank range. A minute later Thomas headed narrowly over his own bar whilst clearing a Basingstoke cross.
The introduction of Kunle Olusesi for Glenn Boosey twenty-three minutes into the half did little to improve United’s fortunes although United produced their only chance of the half a couple of minutes after his substitution – a corner from Gray that was headed goalwards by Gonsalves but cleared off the line.
Sutton brought on Kennedy for Booth in an attempt to improve their attacking fortunes but could not create another opening and it was Basingstoke who went closest to adding to the scoring when a low drive at goal with five minutes remaining was cleared off the line by Thomas. Full time: U’s 0, Basingstoke 1.
F-t-L Facts:
- This was the lowest scoring game the U’s have been involved in since a 1-0 win against Chessington and Hook on March 9th.
- Current Form: DWDLDL (Scored 8, Conceded 9).
- Next Up: Home against Eastbourne Borough – Last Season: No Game.
Team: Wilson, Gray, Gonsalves, Corbett, Thomas, Brake, Fear, Honey, Vansittart, Boosey (Olusesi), Booth (Kennedy). Subs (n/u) Martin.
Left, Matt Gray flicks the ball over the bar after two minutes.
Right, Bradley Thomas beats the 'keeper but his shot deflects off the defender's back foot for a corner.
U’s v Eastbourne Borough (24/08/04)
Sutton took on bottom of the table Eastbourne at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday night but could not outperform their visitors. Andrew Martin started for the second time this season and Eddie Akuamoah returned after missing Saturday’s trip to Basingstoke. Stuart Booth and Glenn Boosey made way, both dropping to the bench.
In a very quiet first half, the referee turned down a strong penalty appeal from Sutton after only three minutes when the ball appeared to strike the hand of an Eastbourne defender. Joff Vansittart and Lewis Gonsalves both went close with headers in the opening half hour but neither could get sufficient power or accuracy to hit the back of the net.
Eastbourne struggled to test U’s ‘keeper Phil Wilson, who watched a lob clear his bar after 25 minutes and, late in the half, a shot flashed across his goal but scraped past the top of the left post. Neither side could muster any other chances and the half eventually came to a close with the score still goal-less. Half-time: U’s 0, Eastbourne 0.
The second half was a slight improvement on the drab opening forty-five minutes. Eastbourne thought they had broken the deadlock within minutes of the restart when a right wing cross was headed home but the referee ruled the goal out for a push on a U’s defender.
Five minutes later the shoe was on the other foot as Vansittart powered a header at goal from ten yards out after a corner from the right and the Eastbourne defender looked to have cleared it from behind the line using a combination of his arm and chest but the referee and his assistant were unmoved.
The U’s were playing the better football at this point but could not make the possession count. Twice Nigel Brake swung in excellent crosses from the left wing but United’s strikers were never in the right position to take advantage.
Brake was involved again with fifteen minutes remaining when a corner was cleared out of the box to him and he struck a high ball back into the area. It looked to be falling nicely for Bradley Thomas but when he could only half control it on his chest, Vansittart was quickest to react and looped a header goalwards. The Eastbourne ‘keeper seemed to be beaten but stretched back to tip the ball into the air and it was cleared off the line by a defender.
Having looked the better side for much of the half, Sutton were forced to hold on for the draw as Eastbourne came back strongly in the final ten minutes. After four consecutive corners failed to produce a goal for the Sussex side, a last ditch effort fashioned a dangerous cross from the right wing that was just missed at the back post. Final score: U’s 0, Eastbourne 0.
F-t-L Facts:
- This was United’s first goalless draw since a home game against Northwood on 21 February 2004.
- Current Form: WDLDLD (Scored 7, Conceded 8).
- Next Up: Home versus Hornchurch – Last Season: 3-1 (J Nurse 2, Bailey).
Team: Wilson, Gray, Akuamoah, Corbett, Thomas, Brake, Fear, Honey, Vansittart, Martin (Boosey), Gonsalves. Subs (n/u) Kennedy, Olusesi, Booth, Howard.
U’s v Hornchurch (28/08/04)
Sutton are still winless in the league this season after the visit of big-spending Hornchurch to the Lane on Saturday. With Bradley Thomas suspended, Stuart Booth started at centre back but the rest of the starting eleven was unchanged.
The U’s started the game positively with Andrew Martin sliding a pass down the right wing to Joff Vansittart, who curled a ball across the box that was too high and fast for Eddie Akuamoah.
After four minutes, Hornchurch took the lead with their first serious attack. Booth missed a header on a looping ball towards the Sutton box which allowed a Hornchurch striker to knock the ball over Scott Corbett and Kirk Jackson controlled the pass and fired it past Phil Wilson into the left side of the goal, 0-1.
The Urchins continued to pressurise the United defence and nearly doubled their advantage four minutes after the opener. Wilson blocked a first time shot after a low cross from the left wing and, as it bobbled towards the right post, Lewis Gonsalves slid to stop a follow up shot and force it behind for a corner.
Sutton began to fight back and Vansittart raced onto a through-ball and nudged it around the ‘keeper but he was forced wide in the process and his shot was cleared behind. From the resulting corner, Vansittart flicked the ball on at the near post and Gonsalves had a free header within the six yard box but guided it over the bar.
The improved play from Sutton brought an equaliser after 14 minutes. Akuamoah won the ball on the edge of the area and turned past a defender before sliding a pass to Martin 12 yards out. He seemed to struggle to control the ball but managed to twist past his marker before slotting it calmly to the left of the ‘keeper and into the bottom right corner, 1-1.
An injury to Vansittart saw him replaced by new signing Luoi Fazakerley after twenty-eight minutes and he could have opened his U’s account within 7 minutes of coming on. Martin won the ball on the left wing and used his strength well to hold up the ball before beating the defender down the line and crossing dangerously into the middle. As it fell on the edge of the area, Peter Fear connected with a volley that the ‘keeper could only palm and Fazakerley should have knocked it home from near the right post but blasted it wide.
Sutton had to battle towards the end of the half to keep the score level at the break - both Paul Honey and Gonsalves made superbly timed tackles to deny Hornchurch. Half-time: U’s 1, Hornchurch 1.
Scott Corbett almost opened the second period in spectacular fashion when he attempted a bicycle kick from eighteen yards but his kick headed down into the ground and bounced twice on its way through to the ‘keeper.
Hornchurch once again began to stretch United and reclaimed the lead in fortuitous fashion just before the hour mark. Gonsalves and Wilson both blocked shots inside the area in the same attacking move but as a U’s defender went to clear the ball it rebounded off the shins of Lee Elam and past Wilson into the goal, 1-2.
Unlike in the first half, Sutton were unable to up their game instantly in an effort to find a second leveller. In fact, it was the U’s who had to continue to defend and needed Wilson to pull off a triple save before being fouled to keep the score respectable leading into the final twenty minutes.
Scott Forrester and Craig Watkins, returning from injury, were both brought off the bench in an attempt to improve Sutton’s attacking efforts but could not make an instant impression.
With ten minutes remaining, Gonsalves once again prevented a Hornchurch goal when he cleared the ball away from the line after a striker had spun off of Corbett and slotted a shot past Wilson.
In injury time United almost nicked a point when Watkins reacted first following a drop ball to flick the ball over the ‘keeper but it came down onto the bar. Matt Gray was first to the rebounded and drilled a low shot but it was straight at the goalie and he held the ball at the second attempt. Full-time: U’s 1, Hornchurch 2.
F-t-L Facts:
- Five games into the season, Andrew Martin’s goal made him the first United striker to find the net.
- Current Form: DLDLDL (Scored 6, Conceded 9).
- Next Up: Away to Newport County – Last Season: No Game.
Team: Wilson, Gray, Akuamoah, Corbett, Booth (Watkins), Brake, Fear, Honey, Vansittart (Fazakerley), Martin (Forrester), Gonsalves. Sub (n/u) Olusesi.
Goal: Martin (14)
Left, Phil Wilson claims a cross in the United area.
Right, Scott Corbett outjumps an attacker to make a headed clearance.
U’s v Newport County (30/08/04)
United concluded their bank holiday weekend fixtures with a trip to Wales to take on tenth placed Newport County. Joff Vansittart had not recovered from his injury sustained on Saturday so Craig Watkins started the game partnering Andrew Martin in attack.
After a shaky opening couple of minutes, Sutton settled down into a good patch of football and instantly caused trouble in the Newport area with a Peter Fear free kick. With the hosts rocking from a torrent of attacks down the right wing, Matt Gray took a long throw from the right hand side, Watkins flicked the ball on and Martin side-footed a volley into the bottom left corner, 1-0 (8 mins).
Fear almost extended United’s advantage after 15 minutes when Nigel Brake swung in a cross that was only partially cleared to the edge of the area but his low volley was fumbled around the right post by the Newport ‘keeper.
Sutton’s excellent start was ended in the nineteenth minute when Newport struck an equaliser. Lewis Gonsalves was beaten to a header forty yards out and then the ball was passed around Scott Corbett to give Jonathan Coates the easy task of slotting it to the right of Phil Wilson and into the net, 1-1.
Having barely recovered from the equaliser, United were dealt another blow when County took the lead four minutes later. A corner from the right was poorly punched by Wilson and Jamie Morallee hooked a volley into the roof of the Sutton goal, 1-2.
After a period of consolidation, during which the play swung from end to end, the U’s struck a double blow of their own as half-time approached. With two minutes of the first period remaining, Fear capitalised on a foul on Martin on the edge of the area by taking a quick free kick and curling it around the half-formed wall and into the right side of the goal, 2-2.
Three minutes into injury time, Martin won the ball on the left wing and held it up well before being brought down. Once again Fear took the free kick and this time curled a beautiful ball into the box that eluded everyone and struck the inside of the right post. As it bounced back across goal, Gonsalves was first to react and forced a header over the line near the left post. Half-time: U’s 3, Newport 2.
Things got even better for Sutton within two minutes of the restart. Kunle Olusesi, on as a substitute in the first half for Stuart Booth, won the ball on the halfway line before sprinting with it towards the Newport area. As the two defenders backed off, Olusesi slid a pass to the right to Martin and he took a couple of touches before crossing to the back post where Watkins met the pinpoint ball with a looping header beyond the ‘keeper’s despairing reach and just under the bar, 4-2.
Newport were now desperately searching for a way back into the game but were constantly thwarted by some stubborn United defending. Five minutes into the half, Gray was forced to clear the ball from under the U’s bar with a header and, from the resulting right wing corner, Newport headed the ball against the left post. Minutes later Fear headed off the Sutton goal-line after a patient Newport build-up.
Watkins’s pace caused trouble for the County defence throughout the game. After 55 minutes he beat the Newport right back to the ball on the left wing, turned inside him and swung over a dangerous cross that Olusesi contested for with the ‘keeper before having a foul given against him.
On the hour, Sutton’s defence once again had to hold firm during a number of chances for the Exiles. First, Wilson denied the hosts by pushing a header over the bar after the ball had been chipped over the United back line and, from the corner that followed, Eddie Akuamoah cleared a well-placed header off of the right post.
Wilson was called into action again with twenty minutes remaining when a free kick from the right wing was met with a diving header but United’s shot-stopper reacted instantly to dive to his left and push the ball around the right upright from the middle of the goal.
Fear tried his luck from another free kick as the game approached the final fifteen minutes but this time curled his effort from the left touchline into the side-netting.
During the second half, Nigel Brake was a much more positive influence on the game and nearly contributed to a fifth goal for United. Seeing Watkins in space, he played a ball to the far right side of the area that Watkins chested inside his man before rifling a low shot at goal from the edge of the box. The Newport ‘keeper could not hold the shot but, as Watkins ran in to convert the rebound, a defender slid in to clear the ball behind, injuring Watkins in the process.
Sutton hung on for a well-deserved victory in the final ten minutes - Gonsalves twice prevented Newport from pulling a goal back and Wilson again was instrumental in ‘keeping the two-goal margin safe by blocking a one-on-one chance deep into injury time. Final score: U’s 4, Newport 2.
F-t-L Facts:
- United doubled the number of goals they had scored this season by hitting the net four times in today’s game.
- Current Form: LDLDLW (Scored 8, Conceded 9).
- Next Up: Home versus Thurrock – Last Season: 0-3.
Team: Wilson, Gray, Booth (Olusesi), Corbett, Gonsalves, Brake, Fear, Honey, Watkins (Forrester), Martin, Akuamoah.
Goals: Martin (8), Fear (43), Gonsalves (45), Watkins (47).
Top Left, Andrew Martin meets Craig Watkins's flick-on with a side-footed volley to open the scoring.
Top Right, Peter Fear watches his quickly taken free-kick curl into the back of the net for 2-2.
Bottom Left, Lewis Gonsalves waits for the ball to come across the goal before heading home.
Bottom Right, Craig Watkins's header loops over the 'keeper to give United a two-goal lead.
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