SUTTON UTD 5 EASTLEIGH 1

report by Tony Dolbear

Sutton cruised comfortably through to the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Cup on Saturday, with Eddie Akuamoah continuing his recent good form with a hat trick that took his total to five goals in the last three games. Once any early unease was settled by Akuamoah's first, in the 17th minute, there was never really any doubt that U's would progress, but in any 'Man of the Match' contest Akuamoah would have faced stiff competition from Eastleigh goalkeeper Andrew Smith, whose performance stood between U's and possible double figures. The Wessex League side came out in spirited fashion, and as always in such a game U's were looking for the early strike to take control. It came before any real anxiety could take hold, as recalled Jon Palmer was picked out by a good crossfield pass over the defence by Ryan Palmer. He took on the defender, reached the byline and sent in a cross that Akuamoah stooped to head neatly in. A couple of minutes later Smith began to emerge as a key figure, and his first save was possibly his best after defender Lee Bright had miscued another Jon Palmer cross high in to the air in the six yard box, and then impeded his own goalkeeper who nevertheless somehow managed to tip over Rob Haworth's header. When Smith went full stretch to his right to keep out Chris Boothe's header from the resulting corner U's could have been forgiven for anticipating a frustrating afternoon, but just before the half hour Scott Corbett, fit again after injury, surged through the middle before putting Akuamoah through, and he allowed Smith to commit himself before rolling the ball in. Seven minutes later came further evidence of Sam Keevill's promise as the former Fulham midfielder crowned an impressive first week by curling a superb left foot shot in to the far corner after good work by Dave Timothy, another whose return from injury gave U's a boost. There was a slight hiccup early in the second half as Gareth Sadler and Craig McAllister combined on a breakaway attack to give former Southampton striker David Puckett the simplest of finishes, but that was very much against the run of play and after Akuamoah completed his hat trick with a glancing header from another Jon Palmer cross it was simply a matter of how many U's would score. They found Smith in inspired form, though, as he produced good saves to deny Haworth, Keevill and substitute Paul Honey, and when he could do nothing Jay Murray hit the bar from a low Ryan Palmer cross and Haworth missed horribly with a clear header from a left wing corner. It wasn't until virtually the last kick of the game that U's produced a fifth, as Keevill sprung a tired defence's offside trap on the left and pulled the ball back past Smith to where U's players were queuing up to score, Haworth applying the finishing touch.

Sutton: Martini, R Palmer, J Palmer, Mison, Arkwright, Corbett(Honey 70), Timothy, Boothe, Haworth, Keevill, Akuamoah(sub Murray 63) subs n/u Taylor, Panter, Dunn.

Eastleigh: Smith, Roberts, L Green, Bright, Mills, Cook, Rowe(Byers 84), Jones, McAllister, Puckett(Platt 59), Brown(Sadler 36) subs n/u B Green, Goble.

Referee: Tony Gurr Attendance 402

Sutton were kept waiting to know their third qualifying round opposition when the draw on Monday gave them an away tie against the winners of Tuesday's replay between Maidenhead and Aldershot, who drew 1-1 at Maidenhead on Saturday. The tie will be on Saturday 13 October, four days after U's play Aldershot in a league game at Gander Green Lane.