Ryman Premier League
2 Sutton United v Grays Athletic 3
ATT 390
We all know John Rains has said he is building for next season so we really can’t expect championship form every week. However their are still a few Sutton fans who at this stage in the season, when United have little to play for, still think it would be a good idea for a new manager. It’s funny how these people never said a word against Rains in his first three seasons in charge.
Arriving at the game on Tuesday night you some how knew it wasn’t going to be a straightforward game. Firstly the match ref was involved in an accident and wasn’t able to make the game, then the replacement referee was late and then the pitch had to be past fit to play. All this led to the gates not being open until the last minute meaning people had to queue outside, a sight many young united fans had never seen before. The game was delayed for fifteen minutes but United could have taken the lead inside the first five minutes as Nko Ekoku’s low cross was knocked to the edge of the area by Matt Gray to Dave Harlow whose powerful swerving shot was just pushed over by Paul Newell. Just after ten minutes Grays had a good chance to take the lead when a thru ball found Andy Douglas running past the United defence, fortunately Gareth Howells was out quickly and did enough to put the striker off allowing Howells to make a save. Two minutes later the United defence again seem static when Mervyn Abraham was able to run from the right wing into the area but saw his shot fly into the side netting. On the half hour mark Matt Gray was allowed to run at the Grays defence but unfortunately he couldn’t keep his shot down. Three minutes later some good work on the right by Palmer unleashed Nko who shot thru a crowd of players and won a corner after another good save from Newell. The corner was swung in and headed toward goal by Horner who saw his effort come back off the bar and fall to Haworth who guided his header into the net. The lead only lasted for ten minute when the Sutton defence allowed a ball from the left to fall to the unmarked Douglas who took time to control, turn and shoot under Howells. Sutton almost recaptured the lead within a minute when some great play by Harlow sent Nko bursting into the area. Nko beat two defenders and slipped the ball past the keeper but the shot looked to be going wide when Haworth slid into the path of the ball and got the slightest of touches and directed the ball back onto the inside of the post and the ball was cleared.
The second half didn’t start too well when after ten minutes Grays took the lead. A good low cross from the left fell to a Grays player who was able to get a good enough shot on goal when he was under pressure from the defence and saw his shot go past a crowd of players into the back of the net. Two minutes later Nko seemed to have beaten Alan McCloud but the number seven brought down Ekoku. McCloud was then shown his second yellow card and was given his marching orders. The resulting free kick taken by Danny Bolt was swung into the area and fell directly onto the head of Chris Boothe whose powerful header left Newell standing as the ball hit the net. Sutton went close to taking the lead when Nko’s cross was headed down by Williams for Harlow to take a strike at goal but the ball ended up in the side netting. With fifteen minutes to go Grays got the winner when Abraham beat two defenders before seeing his shot deflect off one of the Sutton defenders and roll into the goal. With some good work by Bolt and Nko on the right Allowed Harlow to cross into the area for Gray to get a good header on goal but the keeper was untroubled as the header went wide.
Elation Harlow’s return to form with an excellent performance.
Good debut by Dante Alighieri even though he only lasted the first half
Grays getting three points and catching up with Carshalton
Deflation Another defeat
Some bad defending mistakes