SUTTON UTD 0 TOOTING & M 3

report by Tony Dolbear

Sutton's last hope of silverware at first team level evaporated on Tuesday when they crashed out of the Surrey Senior Cup to a Tooting side who were well worth their win. Poor in the first half, Sutton improved after the break and had long spells of possession, and looked to have received their reward 13 minutes from time when substitute Matt Fowler earned a penalty that would have brought U's level. Eddie Akuamoah's shot was saved, however, and as Sutton lost heart Tooting added two goals in the last seven minutes. Their first had come in the 7th minute after Nigel Webb had already been denied once by Tommy Dunn's speed off his line. When the ball broke for Elliott Onochie from a midfield challenge, though, he raced away from U's defence and slotted the ball confidently home. Tooting looked the better side before the break, with Onochie and Webb constantly testing U's uncertain back line, but they were grateful to goalkeeper Tony Webb, the twin brother of the striker, for a superb save after 19 minutes when he tipped away Scott Corbett's piledriving free kick after Akuamoah had been fouled 20 yards out. Tooting deserved the half time advantage, and early in the second half looked set to extend it when Nigel Webb went through on the left and was brought down by Dunn as he tried to go round the keeper. Referee Eamon Smith pointed to the spot, and the next question seemed likely to be the colour of Dunn's card, but the assistant referee's flag had already gone up for offside and U's, and Dunn, were reprieved as the free kick went their way. Sutton went on to enjoy their best spell of the game, and Tony Webb made another good save when he clung on to Mike Mison's 20 yard volley. His defence made U's work hard for any openings, and picked up four bookings in the process, but a breakout attack almost produced a second goal when Nigel Webb's cross found the unmarked Onochie, who put his header straight at Dunn. It looked an expensive miss, because five minutes later Fowler was pulled down as he tried to turn past a defender when Rob Haworth headed on Paul Honey's cross, but Tony Webb dived to his right to beat away Akuamoah's penalty. He then saved well from Fowler, and U's already flagging spirits were lowered further as Nigel Webb turned in Conrad Kane's cross from close range seven minutes from time. It was substitute Kane who then provided Tooting with a glorious end to the evening, sending a superb 25 yard shot high past Dunn in to the roof of the net with a minute left.

Sutton: Dunn, R Palmer, Gonsalves, Mison, Hammonds, Honey, Wingfield(Fowler 66), Corbett, Gray, Haworth, Akuamoah. Subs n/u Bailey, Howard

Tooting: T Webb, Brady, Symes, O'Brien, Teesdale, Ferguson, Frankum, Onochie, N Webb(Mordey 87), Jemmott, Rootes(Kane 75). Subs n/u Pitwood, Hazel, Bouchez.

Referee: E Smith Attendance 247

KINGSTONIAN RES 0 SUTTON UTD RES 1

A first half goal by Danny Dray gave U's reserves a fine win at Kingsmeadow. Dray scored in the 16th minute, coming in to score with a low shot after Scott Stevens had pulled the ball back from the byline. Nick Williams had a goal ruled out for offside as U's had the better of the first half, but they were indebted to a string of good saves from Jamie Ribolla after the break as K's came back strongly, the best of them following a corner when he pushed a close range header on to the post. Right at the end Dean Hamlin almost added a second for U;s but his shot was cleared off the line.

Sutton: Ribolla, Williams(Hamlin), Dray, Dennis, Drew, Hewitt, Stevens(McGowan), Smith, Heuston, Tydeman, Delandro(Gundlach)

CROYDON YTH 0 SUTTON UTD YTH 2

U's maintained their commanding position in the Southern Youth League with a battling win at Croydon Arena on Monday. Frustrated in the first half as the home keeper made fine saves from Graham Tydeman and Tony Bridgeman, and Sam Hewitt headed against the bar, they might have been behind early in the second but for an unmarked Croydon striker missing a left wing cross. The break they needed came on the hour when substitute Sonny Burridge was brought down in the penalty area when no serious danger threatened, and Nick Bailey scored from the spot. Burridge wrapped things up fifteen minutes from time when he was put through by Bridgeman, and reacted quickly to head in the rebound after the keeper blocked his first effort.

Sutton: Smith, Bridgeman, Gundlach, Marshall, Drew, Hewitt, Bailey(Stanley), Tydeman, Gardner, Imms(Burridge), Boosey.