Sutton got the fright of their life against the United Counties League side who were six minutes away from causing a major upset in this tie on Saturday. In a game made farcical by a gale force wind blowing straight down the pitch making constructive football nearly impossible it was always going to be a case of the side showing the greatest appetite for the game who was going to come out on top and the minnows from Daventry tore into their senior opponents determined to put them out of their stride. The sight of home keeper Peter Bulliman’s goal kicks almost reaching the half way line but then being blown back in the air to land just outside his own penalty area caused great amusement amongst the crowd but in truth made decent football impossible and negated any form of constructive football.

Martin Jennings showed how committed the home side was when he clattered late into Gwynne Berry within the first twenty seconds and rightfully went into referee Wards book. The home side playing into the breeze could have rightfully expected to be under pressure early on but they in fact had the best chance in the first twenty minutes, Danny Brooker being nearly knocked over by a powerful header from a corner that he cleared off the line.

Sutton did have most of the game in the first half but too many balls played up to the front players sailed over them and out for a goal kick. Bulliman did make one good save from Mark Watson midway through the half but in truth was rarely extended until Sutton took the lead after 36 minutes. Mark Watson was put through in oceans of space by his namesake Steve and he blasted the ball past the stranded keeper. Sutton did then enjoy a period of dominance until half time, Watson forced Bulliman into another good save and David Harlow struck the foot of a post but U’s did have a scare just before the break as the ball was forced into their net but was ruled out for a foul on Gareth Howells.

A single goal lead always looked precarious and when Peter Mcbean headed in Paul Creaney’s cross with only six minutes gone Sutton looked to be in trouble. Nko Ekoku did have one brilliant run which ended with Barry Blackman missing his kick when he had an open goal but it was the home side who always looked more likely to break the deadlock. Ian Wilkinson came off the subs bench and with almost his first touch forced Howells into a good save. But he was not to be denied six minutes from time when he latched onto a loose ball after a corner and drilled it through a crowd of players into the corner to set off huge scenes of jubilation amongst the home players and fans alike.

Manager John Rains sent on Francis Vines for Richard Skelly in a desperate attempt to grab an equaliser but in truth it was hard to see where it was coming from but Sutton are made of stern stuff these days and Vines with his first touch met a cross from David Harlow and his header crept into the corner to nip Daventry’s celebrations in the bud. So the tie now returns to Gander Green Lane on Tuesday night where Sutton’s superior league position and hopefully, more normal weather conditions should prevail.

The Sutton line up was:

Gareth Howells, Danny Brooker, Andy Riley, Gwynne Berry, Richard Skelly (Vines), Steve Watson, David Harlow, Andy Salako, Nassim Akrour, Mark Watson (Blackman) and Nko Ekoku.

Barry Laker, John Ugbah and john Wheelhouse were the unused Subs.

The Ford Sports line up was: from

Pete Bulliman, Paul Creaney, Aidy Fuller, Keith Francis, Darren Tank, Jimmy Simpson, Lee Mcbain, Steve Rule, Pete Mcbean, Byron Miller, martin Jennings, Ian Wilkinson, Richard Lawson and John Blyth.