Nationwide Conference
Report by David Parker
Sutton fans will be disappointed with losing this local derby clash. Before the game started the united management decided to make a number of changes including McCormack and Westcott who replaced Hutchinson and Riley. Harlow was out of the team as he had picked up five bookings from the previous games.
Kingsmeadow didn't have the atmosphere that a local derby should have but that didn't stop the game exploding into a great first fifteen minutes. On four minutes Westcott started his impressive performance when he ran down the wing and put in a great low cross and the clearance was sliced into the path of Winston who put the ball low in to the back of the net. Kingstonian hit back on seven minutes when Wingfield headed high into the net from what looked like an offside position but the linesman didn't see any thing wrong. The next chance came to Kingstonian in the twenty third minute when the ball was hit into the area from a Pitcher corner to the unmarked Leworthey who jumped well to head the ball low toward the corner of the net, but Howells threw himself to the ground and pulled of a fantastic save. Sutton were defending well and also broke out to attack with Westcott and McCormack both playing well on the wings, making the Kingstonian defence work to preserve the score line. In the thirty second minute Howells' goal kick was controlled by Newhouse and he slid the ball through to Winston who broke clear of the defenders and slipped the ball past Farrelly in the Kingstoian goal. Straight after the Sutton goal Kigstonian attacked down the wing and Wingfield crossed the ball into the area which Howells went up for but couldn't hold on to it which left the goal unmanned, the ball fell nicely for Leworthy who's spectacular shot wide much to the delight of every Sutton fan behind the goal.
The second half started badly for Sutton with only a few minutes gone Geoff Pitcher ran through the Sutton defence and forced a corner which was put in by the head of Crossley to level the scores. . In the second half Sutton produced a great piece of play when Westcott beat Mustafa and played the ball back to Harford who played the ball to Jimmy Dack and he turned Luckett before he played the ball back to Westcott who crossed the ball over the top of the defence and gave McCormack a great chance to score but blasted over. Before the match started United fans were laughing at the fact that Mr J.Ross was refereeing us for the second week running and it was his bad judgement who got Andy Riley sent of for two close yellow card challenges, and it again was his bad judgement that got Paul Harford sent off this week for an almost carbon copy of the trophy game incident . This was a set back that Sutton never came back from and it was clear that Sutton would have to hold on. In the seventieth minute Howells spilt another cross and it was Skelly on hand to make a clearance from the line. The ineffective Leworthy thought he got the goal to silence his Sutton 'fans' but was disallowed for the climbing, that Leworthy done in order to get to the ball. It was in the eighty sixth minute that the depression hit Sutton, a Pitcher corner went to the far post for Leworthy to head at goal but the ball was turned in by a Sutton defender. With a minute to go Sutton had most of their players up field pressing for an equaliser but the ball was cleared to Wingfield who ran into the area and slotted home for their fourth goal. The final whistle met with boo's from the united fans, which were directed, at the ref.
Elation A good first performance from McCormack and Westcott. A good performance from the team, which showed that with eleven men Sutton, can be a difficult side to beat.
Deflation Another player off. Losing to Kingstonian when we deserved at least a point.
Kingstonian 1 Farrelly 2 Mustafa 3 Luckett 4 Crossley 5 Stewart 6 Allan 7 Patterson 8 Pitcher 9 Akuamoah 10 Leworthy 11 Wingfield (Sorry for any team mistakes but the tannoy announcements were very poor )
Sutton United 1 Howells 2 Lee (17 Brooker 50th ) 3 Skelly 4 Berry 5 Laker 6 Westcott 7 Dack 8 Harford 9 Newhouse 10 Winston 11 McCormack ( 12 Watson 55th)