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2005/06 MATCH REPORTS
U’s v Lewes (08/11/05)
Goals:
0-1 – A serious lapse of concentration in the first minute results in Phil Wilson making a desperate effort to beat Sigere to the ball on the edge of the area but the Lewes striker prods it past Phil for the opener.
0-2 – The game is as good as over seven minutes later as Sigere goes free inside the right of the area and hammers the ball high into the net past a helpless Wilson.
0-3 – A speedy counter attack down the left wing exposes the Sutton defence and the low cross is turned in at the back post by Sigere for a hat-trick inside eighteen minutes.
0-4 – A shot across goal rebounds off the right post and the rebound falls kindly for Kennett who knocks it home with four minutes still to play in the first half.
0-5 – The half time interval does little to improve Sutton’s play and it’s five-nil just before the hour as Wilson fails to hold a skimming twenty-five yard drive and Sigere nips in to tuck away his fourth of the night.
1-5 – With two minutes remaining, Tony Quinton crosses from the right, Craig Watkins flicks on at the near post and Lewis Gonsalves is up from the back to jump highest and head home from two yards out.
Sutton’s Best Move:
The late consolation goal. Quinton showed good control to find the space to cross and Watkins, Sutton’s best performer, looped a header to the back post where Gonsalves headed in despite the challenges of a defender and ‘keeper. Unfortunately, Sutton rarely looked like scoring at any other point.
And if the result wasn’t bad enough…
Matt Gray went off injured after 27 minutes, limping down the tunnel to be replaced by Gary Elliott. Already three-nil down at this point, the resulting tactical change forced JR to play Watkins out of position at right wing back.
Miserable:
The evening’s weather seemed to match the mood of the Sutton fans as the rain got harder as the evening went on.
Current Form…
Could be better. Sutton’s fans will be hoping that the U’s dust off the cobwebs of having played only twice in the last three weeks in time for Saturday’s game.
LLWWLL: Scored 8, Conceded 11.
Next for the U’s:
Away to Eastleigh. A first ever visit for the U’s to the Hampshire side, who reached the Nationwide South through the Ryman League play-offs last season.
Team:
Wilson, Palmer, Gonsalves, Scarborough, Honey, Quinton, Gray (Elliott), Pitcher, Cornwall, Watkins, Akuamoah. Subs (n/u) Castledine, Rivers.
U’s v Eastleigh (12/11/05)
Goals:
0-1 – The match seems destined to end goal-less when Eastleigh switch the play to the right wing and Forbes bundles the cross home with only a minute to play.
0-2 – Sutton double their own misery in injury time as Phil Wilson goes up for a corner in a gamble that backfires spectacularly when Eastleigh break and Forbes plays the ball past Ryan Palmer into the U’s goal.
Sutton’s Best Move:
During a good spell in the first half, United work the ball into the area where Geoff Pitcher connects with a crashing volley from 12 yards that seems bound for the back of the net before it deflects off the back of Watkins and behind for a goal kick.
Missed decisions:
Sutton were left ruing some lacklustre refereeing, notably the failure to spot a blatant foul inside the box on Luke Cornwall by ex-U Bradley Thomas, who attempted to pull Cornwall down by his arms (see photo below). With the score at one-nil, Craig Watkins was also denied a goal with a defensive intervention that appeared to strike the defenders forearm.
Total football:
The Eastleigh ‘keeper may have received a few taunts from the Sutton fans about his waistline but, in a virtually faultless performance, he earned the travelling supporters’ respect with a clever ‘Cruyff’ turn to beat Cornwall, after collecting a tricky back pass.
Current Form is…
Disappointing, to say the least. Three straight league defeats have seen the U’s drop down the table to ninth.
LWWLLL: Scored 8, Conceded 11.
Next for the U’s:
A home league game against twentieth-placed Newport County next weekend provides a chance for Sutton to bounce back from their recent defeats. Newport’s visit to the Lane last season ended in a nil-nil draw. Match Report
Team:
Wilson, Palmer, Gonsalves, Scarborough, Castledine, Quinton, Pitcher, Honey, Cornwall, Watkins, Akuamoah. Subs (n/u) Elliott, Rivers, Fear.
Eastleigh's 'keeper saves a Sutton effort
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Luke Cornwall is fouled in the box for no reward
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U’s v Newport County (19/11/05)
Goals:
0-1 – Ryan Palmer loses possession at the back for United and Cortez Belle ran through and shot over Phil Wilson to give Newport the lead (55 mins).
1-1 – With six minutes to go, Matt Gray collects a pass on the right wing and, when he rifles a low ball into the box, it is deflected into the net by a defender (84 mins).
Sutton’s Best Move:
Half an hour in, Tony Quinton curves a pass over the head of a defender to Matt Gray on the right wing and he crosses to the near post where Craig Watkins just fails to connect and the ‘keeper palms the ball away.
Current Form is…
Looking dodgy - United are now win-less in the last four games.
WWLLLD: Scored 9, Conceded 11.
Next for the U’s:
Sutton travel to Uxbridge next Saturday for an FA Trophy tie against the Southern League Division One East side
Team:
Wilson, Palmer, Gonsalves (Elliott), Scarborough, Castledine (Rivers), Quinton, Gray, Honey, Cornwall, Watkins, Akuamoah. Subs (n/u) Fear, L Adams.
Matt Gray is sent airborne
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Tony Quinton sidefoots wide of goal
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U’s v Uxbridge, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round (26/11/05)
Goals:
1-0 – The U’s seem to be coasting inside the first twenty minutes and an excellent inswinging cross from the left by Matt Gray is met at the back post by Gary Elliott’s unstoppable diving header (21 mins).
1-1 – Sutton lose their way, though, and it’s no surprise when Mark Nicholls chests down a cross from the right and slots it past Wilson (37 mins).
1-2 – With ten minutes of the second half gone, Sutton find themselves in big trouble when play is switched to the left and, when the ball is crossed low to the back post, it is Mick Swaysland out of the players queuing up to finish who knocks it home (55 mins).
2-2 – Three minutes into injury time Sutton earn a replay when Eddie Akuamoah finds Gray on the right and his cross is headed into the bottom right corner by substitute Stewart Castledine (90 mins).
Sutton’s Best Move:
Aside from the goals, Sutton’s best ‘moves’ are probably those of Phil Wilson who pulls off a couple of saves to keep Sutton in the game in the second half. With the defence beaten on the left wing a cross to the back post is met with a header destined for the back of the net but Wilson tracks back across his goal and dives to tip the ball over the bar.
Play Your Cards Right:
The referee was very lenient throughout the match, preferring to talk to players rather than reach for his book. Unfortunately, this resulted in the Uxbridge players continually taking advantage and, with the game out of his control, he then had to show six cards inside the last fifteen minutes.
No Ball Games:
Was Sutton’s performance paying heed to the sign on entry to the ground? Welcome to Uxbridge FC – No Ball Games.
The ‘Tea Bar’:
Wary of a repeat of last season’s Egham debacle, we swerved away from the option of waiting fifteen minutes for a burger at the start of the game. One fan behind us in the queue also received some ‘interesting’ service on asking for a cup of soup, “You’ll have to come round here and choose it yourself, I haven’t got my glasses on,” he was told.
Current Form is…
Worrying – Apart from the first twenty minutes the U’s just didn’t look like beating a side two leagues below them and are lucky to have earned a replay.
WLLLDD: Scored 7, Conceded 13.
Next for the U’s:
It’s Uxbridge again for United as they visit Gander Green Lane on Tuesday for the replay.
Team:
Wilson, Palmer, Elliott, Scarborough, Rivers (Castledine), Quinton, Gray, Honey, Cornwall (Gonsalves), Pitcher (Fear), Akuamoah.
Eddie Akuamoah strides forward
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Gary Elliott watches Matt Gray's cross before heading the opener
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U’s v Uxbridge, FA Trophy 3rd Qualifying Round Replay (29/11/05)
Goals:
0-1 – Lewis Gonsalves slices a clearance up in the air and John Swift runs into the right of the area to strike an excellent volley past Phil Wilson for the only goal of the game (30 mins).
Sutton’s Best Move:
The ball is played into Sean Rivers on the edge of the box and he takes a touch before laying it out wide to Matt Gray. Gray’s cross picks out Eddie Akuamoah at the back post and he strikes the ball first time but hits the side netting (18 mins).
Man in the Middle:
The referee followed up his performance on Saturday with a similar display today. The Uxbridge goal followed on from a Sutton attack being stopped because the referee believed the Uxbridge ‘keeper to be injured. In fact, the ‘keeper was just slow getting to his feet and play was then restarted with Sutton giving possession back to Uxbridge! That said, United can not hide being the ref’s performance for losing this game.
Current Form is…
Terrible – No wins for United in the last six games, two of which were against lower-league opposition.
LLLDDL: Scored 5, Conceded 14.
Next for the U’s:
United are away to Thurrock on Saturday. Last season the game ended 2-1 in Sutton’s favour with goals from Matt Gray and Garry Haylock - Match Report
Team:
Wilson, Palmer, Elliott (Douglas), Scarborough, Gonsalves, Quinton, Gray, Honey, Cornwall, Rivers (Castledine), Akuamoah. Subs (n/u) Pitcher, Fear, Maan.
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