By far Sutton's worst performance this season. It took Sutton 30 minutes
before they started to get involved. Although Telford weren't exactly setting
the world on fire , during that period. They did at least give the impression
they were looking for the matches.
Telford ruled the mid field and gave the Sutton
defence a number of shaky moments , without creating any real solid chances.
Sutton's game picked up a bit and the breakthrough came in the 38th minute.
Ekoku made a strong run into the penalty area from the left side and was
brought down. Sammy Winston converted the penalty.
For a change it was Sutton who were a
bit fortunate to be up at half time. It didn't stay that way for long.
A poorly defended corner saw Bentley power home a header in the 53rd minute.
Things settled down for a while until a flurry of red cards changed the shape
of the game. In the 64 minute the substitute ,Naylar, was booked for a second
time , for a foul on Winston and he was off. From the subsequent free kick
,on Telford's left wing, the ball was floated in high to the penalty area.
Williams caught the ball but appeared to follow through on to Winston, who
collapsed in the penalty area. The referee was close to the incident and
looking directly at it had no hesitation in blowing for the foul and reaching
for the red card. Winston became Us top scorer by
converting the penalty. At this point the result should have been a
formality, but 9 man Telford were not having that. It was the men from the
Bucks Head who finished stronger and had Sutton clinging on for the win.
I twas difficult to believe that Sutton had a 2 man advantage and they totally
failed to capitalise on it. In the 87th minute the numbers were evened a
bit when Jimmy Dack was booked for a second time following a challenge outside
the Sutton area.
In football it is often said what goes around, comes
around. So Sutton can point to the games at Hednesford and Kettering and
justify the 3 points. Telford will have to wait for theirs.
Sutton pressurise Williams in the Telford goal.
Winston goes down following the challenge from Williams
Winston converts the penalty.