Ryman Premier League

 

 

 

                              1     Sutton United         v        Aldershot Town   1

 

 

 

           Sutton snatched a goal in the last ten minutes to earn a point, a result that Aldershot would have thought they done enough to get all three points. United didn’t play consistently, only playing well for ten minutes then switching off for another ten. 

           With in the first ten minutes Aldershot looked to be cutting through the Sutton defence with ease going close to scoring on two occasions. The first chance fell to Lee Protheroe who hit a shot well out side the Sutton area, which almost dipped over Howells in the Sutton goal. Aldershot’s second attempt came from a free kick on the left wing, which was curled wonderfully into the danger area for Mark Bentley to beat the Sutton defence to the ball but could only direct his header at Howells. With fifteen minutes gone the game turned nasty when Rob Haworth dived into the legs of Holsgrove after he had given the ball away, a crowd of both Sutton and Aldershot players gathered round to pull team mates away. Holsgrove and Honey were both booked for the scuffle. United had an appeal for a penalty turned down when Haworth burst into the area and knocked the ball past the keeper and away from goal but was brought down by the keepers lunge, the ref had a good look but decided that Haworth wasn’t going anywhere and didn’t give the kick. Minutes later a ball over the top that both Howells and Bolt went for. Bolt took the chance and shot over with Haworth furious that the opportunity wasn’t left for him. Aldershot then went close when Howells was forced into action to stop a good header from Stafford Browne. United went the closest out of the two sides in the first half when Harlow’s corner was cleared back into his path. His shot was directed goal wards by Haworth who was denied at point blank range by Surle in the Aldershot goal. Just before half time Aldershot went close when Browne low shot was saved by Howells.

              The second half was a very dull half of football with the pitch helping passes from both sides go all over the place instead of the intended player. With fifteen minutes into the half Mark Bentley and Lee Holsgrove combined well down the right and put in a good low cross that was struck into the net by Lee Protheroe to give Sutton that familiar feeling. Five minutes later United could have been two down when a corner was headed on by Abbott but Holsgrove blasted over from close range. With seventy-five minutes gone Sutton were delighted to see the linesman’s flag when Abbott’s shot hit the net after being set up by Hathaway. With ten minutes to go Danny Bolt’s free kick was whipped into the area and headed on by Haworth but the header was cleared but only as far as Whitmarsh who struck on the half volley low and hard into the bottom left corner past the out stretched hand of Surle.

              United did well to battle back from a goal down when they went with out the ball for long periods at a time. Although Aldershot will feel they should have taken advantage of the possession by making sure Sutton couldn’t get back into the game.