UMBRO FA TROPHY 2ND ROUND
It may be churlish to complain , after a 5-2 win , but Sutton did not perform well. It is unlikely that there will be a better time to have played Salisbury. Most of their defense were missing through injury, they had just had a very embarrassing defeat to lower division Devizes Town and there was a fair amount of supporter unrest.
Sammy Winston put the Us ahead in the sixth minute. A long ball from Skelly found Winston who left the defender behind, took the ball wide of the keeper and slotted it home. Two minutes later Salisbury had a chance to level the scores with a free kick from outside the area, but it was blasted over. On 17 minutes Watson did well to turn the defender in the penalty box but the keeper made a good save. Sutton went 2-0 up after a similarly worked opening found Winston one on one with the keeper, He was forced wide but squared it to Watson who put it in to the empty net. Winston again was through 3 minutes later, this time courtesy of a pass from Harlow but he was unable to finish from the tight angle. Sutton didn't have it their own way, Little had to make a brave punched clearance following a one on one with Sales. Sutton were being caught by through balls, the change in the defensive line up (caused by Lakers suspension) not gelling. Berry ,Riley and Brooker in the centre with Skelly and Sears almost playing a wing back type role.
The second half started with a series of Sutton corners, Watson forcing a save from the keeper after one of them , but this was the nearest that Sutton had to sustained pressure. City got back in it after 67 minutes.The ball was crossed in low and eventually bundled in by Shepard. Just as the possibility of a Salisbury equaliser started to look possible ,a City defender gave the ball away to Harlow, who slipped the ball through for Watson to chase. He just got to it before the chasing defender and the on rushing keeper. He toed it wide to space and Ekoku , on for Winston , ran on to it to finish. City never gave up and the scored again in the 83rd minute, Shepard shooting under Andy Little's diving body. United sealed the victory 3 minutes later after a run down the wing by Ekoku. his cross found Rowland who scored from close range. The 88th minute goal by Dave Harlow was a fine individual effort. He received the ball outside the area, turned the defender , advanced past a defender and and fired home. but the 5-2 scoreline more than flattered the visitors, however it is still Sutton that will be going through to the next round.
LIITLE,BROOKER,SKELLY,BERRY,RILEY,HARLOW,
DACK,HARFORD,WINSTON,WATSON,SEARS subs ROWLANDS, EKOKU,BAKER