Ryman Premier League

2 Sutton United VS Croydon 1

United started brightly looking like they would be able to win comfortably but after the first twenty minutes Sutton relaxed and allowed Croydon back in the game.

United good start produced chances from the first five minutes, with on loan striker Haworth involved in most of the chances. On nine minutes Rob Haworth played the ball back to Danny Bolt who was able to put in a great cross to Richard Thompson whose volleyed shot was well saved by James Wastell. Croydon also had many chances thru out the game their first coming on fifteen minutes when they broke from a Sutton corner and Gary Bowyer made sure Gareth Howells had to make a good save from his shot. On seventeen minutes an excellent free kick from Danny Bolt hit in to the area for Hawoth to head home from a diving header after leaving his marker. A minute later Nko Ekoku played a good ball over the top, which fell behind Haworth who was able to turn and shoot forcing a good save from Wastell. With twenty minutes remaining of the first half Croydon broke thru the defence again when McDonnel put the ball past the on coming Howells but his shot went wide of the target. Just before half time Haworth ran on to a ball beating one defender and the goalkeeper but was stopped unfairly by Danny Bower who was sent off for the foul and a penalty was awarded. Danny Bolt stepped up and scored from the spot putting Sutton two nil up and spark them back to life for the final few minutes of the half.

Ten minutes in to the second half Croydon showed that they were still fighting for the points when Dundus was able to thread the ball thru to Mcdonnel whose shot was well saved by Howells. Twenty minutes gone in the first half Sutton had their first shot of the game when Haworth got the ball in midfield. He ran on in to the area and found enough space for a shot, which looked to have gone past the keeper but he managed to get a touch on the ball. Three minutes later Croydon pulled a goal back when Chris Dickson’s free kick was headed home by Coleman. Some good played by Nko and Thompson made enough space for Nko to run down the wing and cross toward Haworth. Although he had time and space he still wasn’t able to put the ball in to the net. A minute later a shot from well out side the area was only just held on to by Howells. With fifteen minutes to go Harlow knocked the ball into the area for Thompson to connect with but his shot went wide of the goal. With time running out Croydon could have equalised when Howells was drawn from his gaol and beaten. The ball was played into the area but no one was there to put the ball into the empty net.

Elation -Good football from Sutton with a good passing display on a pitch heavy with water.

Deflation- Allowing Croydon to get back into the game.

SUTTON UNITED - 1 Howells 2 Brooker 3 Boothe 4 Hammonds 5 Palmer 6 Harlow 7 Bolt ( 12 Sears ) 8 Horner 9 Haworth 10 Thompson( 14 Panter ) 11 Ekoku

CROYDON – 1 Wastell 2 Bower 3 Hollingsworth 4 Dundus 5 Harper 6 Currie 7 Dickson 8 Bowyer 9 McDonnell 10 Alun 11 Coleman