St. Alban's City 4 : 2 Sutton United
Saturday 23rd August 1997 . Kick off 3.00pm Sutton, with a good sized travelling
support, went into this game with high hopes after two opening victories in the current
league campaign but were brought down to earth with a bang inside 23 minutes by a stunning
hat-trick by Steve Clark, a man who has been a thorn in our side on many occasions in the
past. Jimmy Neighbour, the "Saints" manager bemoaned his leading strikers
ability this season to get into the box in the match programme, but there was no sign of
that as first he climbed above a hesitant U's defence at the far post to head in a cross
after good work down the left hand side by Justin Gentle and Peter Risley and 10 minutes
later repeated the dose from a similar cross as once again the Sutton defence failed to
prevent a quality ball being played in down their right hand side. In between the goals
Sutton had their best spell of the first half and had equalised Clark's opener when a well
worked move from a throw in level with the penalty area on the right had almost resulted
in a goal for one of Sutton's centre backs but when the shot came back off Gareth Howells
in the City goal, Jimmy Dack was in the right place to rifle a shot into net. However
Sutton hopes were dashed less than a minute later by Clark's second goal and worse was to
follow 4 minutes later when after more indecision in the Sutton defence the ball
eventually found its way to Clarke unmarked on the edge`of the area and his low right foot
shot found the far corner of Cleevely's net. Sutton who made one change from Monday
night's win at Purfleet, John Ugbah coming into the side in central midfield in place of
the unlucky Matt Hanlan tried hard to reduce the arrears but seemed to lack the firepower
up front that had been so much in evidence in the Purfleet game. Into the second half and
once again the U's supporters hopes were raised when a good move down the left involving
David Everitt, who had come on as substitute for Sean Daly, resulted in the ball flashing
across the goal and being met by Danny Brooker at the far past who turned in his second
goal in only three league games. But in truth, Sutton were always playing catch-up, and
despite bringing on Matt Hanlon and Dominic Feltham for Danny Brooker and Steve Watson
they only made one further chance in the game Joff Vansittart shooting across the goal
from a tight angle following good work down the right by Feltham. St Alban's wrapped the
game up in the 75th minute when a free kick given away on the edge of the box was put in
by Peter Risley who's low drive beat Les Cleevely by his left hand post. Sutton now have
two home games against Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday night and Heybridge Swift's next
Saturday to keep up the pressure at the top of the table. Heybridge's promising start came
to a halt today when they lost 3-0 at home to newly promoted Chesham United. If you have
enjoyed (or not!) reading this report and wish to make any comments please "e"
mail me at the address shown.