20th September 1997
ENFIELD 0 SUTTON UNITED 2
Sutton improved their position at the top of the table as they won at their arch rivals
Enfield for the second time in three years. This victory was all the more satisfying
because of its nature, Sutton virtually dominating the game from start to finish and apart
from one great save from Les Cleevely in the second half he was rarely challenged by a
home side in turmoil after the departure of their manager George Borg during this week. In
a quiet opening fifteen minutes the only moment of note was a fierce drive from Joff
Vansittart that just cleared the bar but ten minutes later Sutton took the lead, the ball
crossed in by Danny Brooker and Vansittart again was there to rise above
a hesitant defence and glance the ball into the corner of the net for his ninth goal of
the season with Andy Pape rooted to his line. It could have been two four minutes later,
David Everitt playing a good ball in after a pass from Steve Watson but Matt Hanlon was
just beaten to the ball at the near post. The game began to get a little bad tempered at
this point and just a minute after Joff Vansittart had been apparently trodden on in the
penalty area a late challenge on Danny Brooker resulted in a booking but this was nothing
compared to an incident just on the stroke of half time which certainly had the Enfield
players and crowd totally incensed. A through ball split the Sutton defence and as Leroy
May tried to round Les Cleevely he dived at his feet well outside the penalty area
handling the ball. The referee was surrounded by Enfield players but in the end only
booked the Sutton keeper when perhaps he should have got his marching orders. Sutton
started the second half where they left off and in the fifty fourth minute Matt Hanlon,
who was my man of the match, cleverly won a corner on the Sutton right which was floated
in by David Everitt, flicked on By Joff Vansittart and there was Paul Clark
to head home his first goal in Sutton colours. After sixty five minutes Matt Hanlon nearly
made it three when he just failed to get on the end of a header from Joff Vansittart after
good work down the right by Andy Salako. Les Cleevely then was called upon to make his
best save of the game from a good drive from Matthew Edwards but Sutton were in control of
the game and could even afford the luxury of taking off leading scorer Joff Vansittart
with ten minutes to go, replacing him with John Ugbah. The Sutton line up was Les
Cleevely, Danny Brooker and David Everitt the wingbacks, Gwynne Berry , Sean Daly and Paul
Clark at the back. Steve Watson, Jimmy Dack and Andy Salako in midfield with Matt Hanlon
and Joff Vansittart up front. The unused substitutes were Dominic Feltham and Dave
Patullo. The crowd was slightly disappointing at 840 but this may have been due to
Enfield's problems as there was a loud and large travelling Sutton support. As stated
earlier this win increased Sutton lead at the top of the Icis League as local rivals
Carshalton did them a favour by holding their nearest rivals Kingstonian to a one all
draw. Sutton now return to Gander Green Lane on Tuesday for a home fixture against
Gravesend & Northfleet kick off 7.30pm.