Ryman Premier League

 

 

 

                             1       Sutton United        v       Billericay Town    4

 

 

 

 

                Sutton were lucky to escape with a three goal defeat as the impressive Billericay swept an under par Sutton side away. Billericay showed their superior play with excellent defence splitting run from ex United sub Joe Baker.

               As early as the fifth minute Baker’s run around two motionless Sutton defenders put thru Paul Piscopides with the whole goal to aim at both blasted over the bar. Seven minutes later Piscopides had a shot cleared of the line by Danny Brooker after Baker had turned Riley and put in a low cross. United finally paid the penalty on fourteen minutes when a ball from midfield opened up the defence, which allowed Joe Baker to run clear and turn Tommy Dunn before slipping the ball into the empty net. Sutton thought they had equalised when Paul Whitmarsh headed home after Rob Haworth’s flick on from Ryan Palmer’s cross but the goal was disallowed because Whitmarsh was in an offside position. With five minutes left to go Sutton went another goal down when Baker was allowed to run from the half way line beating two defenders on his way before slipping the ball under Dunn. With seconds remaining in the first half a low cross from Jeff Woolsey led to Richard Horner slicing his clearance into the back of his own net to give the visitors a three goal lead.

               Within a minute of the second half Justin Gentle ran to the edge of the area and put in a low cross allowing Dominic Gentle to tap home past the out stretched Dunn. United pulled a goal back six minutes later when Whitmarsh’s run from midfield allowed him to put a cross thru to Chris Boothe who scored on the second attempt after his first shot was saved by King. With ten minutes left Sutton could have conceded a fifth when Dominic Gentle ran one on one with Dunn and tried to chip the stranded goalkeeper but Dunn was able to hold on to the effort.

               Sutton would have been disappointed not to have carried on with the good form recently after drawing with Aldershot and beating Carshalton but a skilful Billericay side beat them convincingly.