FA cup 4th qualifier Saturday 16th October 1999
Sutton travelled to Rushden & Diamonds' Nene Park for this FA cup encounter, but in reality it was a trip to another world. No volunteer stewards here, in this impressive modern stadium. The whole set up was professional, even having their own radio station. I wouldn't mind betting that the person dressed as the mascot lion was earning. Although what ever they might be paying him/her it is not enough.
The gap between the two clubs was just as evident on the playing field. Whilst Rushden never exactly dominated the game, it was very much like the league game at Gander Green Lane. Rushden seem to have the ability to score when they want. Every so often they would get bored playing around with Sutton , step up a gear , and score.
Sutton started promisingly and for the first 11 minutes there was some hope. Then Rushden got a bit fed up, whipped the ball out to Sutton's left, where there were acreas of space. A superb cross found Micheal McElhatton who headed firmly home. Three minutes later the best goal of the afternoon was scored by John Brady who turned and shot through a crowd of players. Howells was called on to make a couple of fine saves as Rushden pressed forward. Towards the end of the half Sutton had a couple of half chances , the best falling to Sammy Winston who cut in to the penalty area from the left side , but the tight angle meant he could only shoot straight at the keeper. Just as the Sutton supporters started thinking that a goal before half time might make it interesting, Rushden obliged. Michael McElhatton getting his second with a fine shot.
The second half started with more Rushden pressure, Barry Laker having a fine game in the middle of the defence, partnered this time by Danny Brooker . Sutton's best spell of the game culminated with a fine goal by Keith Rowland following a corner. The ball eventually falling out side the area and Rowlands cracked it home. The half time predictions of how many Sutton would lose by seemed overly pessimistic. However thought of making life uncomfortable for the Diamonds were soon terminated when , a surely offside, Darren Collins shot past Andy Little in goal. Little had replaced Howells earlier due to injury sustained when kicking a ball out. Little denied Rushden their fifth when he dived to his left to push the ball round the post.
Howells, Brooker, Skelly, Berry, Hutchinson , Laker , Rowlands , Harlow , Winston ,
Watson , Ekoku Subs Vines , Rogers (Rowlands), Forrester (Watson) , Little (Howells)