|
Match Reports
London United 1 SUFC (Gambia) 1
Demba Sanyang made three crucial saves as aten men U`s squad drew 1-1 with London Utd in a heart-pounding “do or die match”. The match was played in Feele Ba and there were many U`s fans present. Those who had seen Kevlavic crush the U`s 3-0 might have been surprised at the way the underdogs played against the Londoners. The Sutton Utd side began with a 4-5-1 formation and started the game with great energy, attacking from the first whistle. However; arguably against the play London scored first. A set piece 25 yards out was driven low and Shirifo Manneh (the opposition’s striker) got in front of his defender and knocked a header to the far post. The U`s got an equalizer on 26 minutes. Musa Joof scored a fluke goal when he tried to direct a volley one way but skewed the ball the other and the goalkeeper did not move. Then there was a crucial turning point in the character of the game. Jimoh rose for a midfield challenge and intentionally hit his fellow skipper for the opposition under the left eye with what looked like an elbow. Tempers flared between the players but the referee swiftly moved in and surprisingly gave Jimoh a yellow in what was even admitted by the U`s coach as a straight red. The ref went on to show a red card and another yellow to Sutton in the match which equaled was a bad tempered one. With half an hour gone the goal and the U`s total football did give them a massive advantage. But as it appeared they did not keep their heads. Ten minutes after Musa had grazed the crossbar with a shot he made a horrible lunge at the ankles of an opposition and once again the referee reached for his pocket flashed the red card. Just before half-time the U`s had minimized their advantage. In less than fifteen minutes after the restart they were about to hand the Londoners more advantage. Jimoh was supposed to be sent off after he received his second caution: two yellow cards but for the confused central referee and to the horror of the spectators, he was spared as the referee did not realize he had been on booked earlier on. Landing immediately got substitute Felix Correa one of his defensive midfielders on to avoid loosing another player. Kaka was also brought on for James Mendy to strengthen the already tired and shaken defense which also saw a revert in formation to a 4-3-2. By 85 minutes this had become 8-0-1.
As the Londoners were stretched further Demba Sanyang made a couple of crucial saves from London’s extra substitute attacker. On 73 minutes he got one hand to a powerful header and then palmed away two-handed his long range drive. In the last 10 minutes London passed well and created a few chances to score. Lamin Kinteh broke the offside trap, but failed to control the ball with only Demba to beat. On 90 minutes Shiriffo headed wide under pressure from Walter. The U`s despite playing the entire second half with 10men might say they were unlucky not to get a second goal. A Basirou Mass shot beat the London Goalie but was over-ruled because Sana was standing offside in the keeper's line of sight. The shared point meant Sutton united were knocked out of the league into the Losers Cup after loosing two of their previous games 3-0, 2-0 to both Kevlavic and Lamin Lodge. It has indeed being a poor and surprised performance for the U`s but changes need to be made soonest as possible with the Losers cup almost underway and also with the Knock – out trophy looming near very soon
Sutton Utd: D Sanyang, E Bojang, L Jawla, Walter, J Mendy (Kaka 60th), Saja, M Sibi, B Mass, M Joof, Jimoh (Felix Correa 57th), S Bangura
Subs not used: M Njie, A Jallow, P Gomez, Pa Siaka, M Jatta
Booked: Jimoh (Yellow), M Joof (Red)
Goal: Musa Joof
SUFC (Gambia) 1 Lamin Lodge 2
The U’s poor start to the season continued to their second match as they lost 2 – 1 to Lamin Lodge with 19 minutes to play after leveling 1 – 1. It’s hard to admit but the have been shaky for a while now and amendments needs to be made as time is running out!
Both teams marched out onto the pitch in a cool warm evening as they both hoped to secure their first ever win but it was the away team who were to emerge victorious at the end of the game. It was the U’s who started off with a good start as early as the sixth minute when they Ebou Bojang came launched in a cross for the debutant Sanna Bangura, but Lodge cleared up before the striker could make a pounce and in the coarse won Sutton their first corner kick.
Lodge also retaliated by frightening the U’s in the 12th minute when a clear chance was dropped at the feet of kebba Njie but he smacked the ball across the U’s Goalie “Dae” who got a hand to it and made a wonderful save before his defense came to his and cleared off safety. United came knocking again in the 18th minute as things got really heated up and this time with Sanna Bangura. The player unmarked got the ball, leapt some couple of yards before rifling in rocket which to many of the U’s bench were convinced it was destined for goal but to their dismay it flew inches above the cross bar for a goal kick.
To show how tense the game was, both teams responded to each others threats and were working off their socks with each hoping to get the opener. Lamin Lodge responded to the U’s 18th minute goal chance with a corner in the 26th minute but for the tall lanky U’s Goalie who came charging out and got the ball. Things couldn’t have been worse for Sutton when Edi Bojang (brother to Ebou) picked up a knock on the knee when he was awfully tackled by an opposition player and to make things worse his protective bother – Ebou who was already on a card got booked for protesting to the referee which now makes him ineligible for our third & final fate deciding match against London Utd. Musa Joof was also booked for what we don’t know as we were refused an explanation.
Sutton Utd had the chance to lead shortly before the first half and again the already established Sanna was opportune to register his first goal for the club but his shot rebounded off the bar and was collected by the goalkeeper. Nil – Nil was the score line in the all entertaining first half.
The U’s kicked off their second half with a substitution which saw Edi Bojang playing right half-back give way to Lamin Badjie also a debutant as the former was really struggling with knock received earlier on in the first half.
Sutton were given the biggest scare and surprise of the game just 3 minutes into the second half when Lamin lodge found the U’s net through a substitute who had been just three minutes on the pitch! The move started from midfield when a Lodge moved quickly to send in a through pass for the superb sub who made a good run took the first touch, rose up his eyes-brows to read the onrushing Dae and perfectly buried the ball into the net to put his team in front. Sutton Utd responded quickly but skipper for the night Mustapha Sibi watched as his shot rose up and over the bar.
However the U’s were not finished.15 minutes later an equalizer was struck by Ebou after Musa’s previous effort was saved by the goalie but Ebou reacted swiftly to notch up the ball into the net to make the scores level at 1 – 1 which also saw the raising of nostalgia feelings among the U’s fans.
With the scores level and the game look set for a draw, a terrible mistake was made from defense which cost the U’s dearly and they were made to pay for it. In his efforts to fend off a Lodge player, Pa Siaka was discharged and a fine cross was knocked into the U’s danger zone and found a waiting player who hurriedly knocked in a shot and to the Sutton’s panic rolled into the net! 2 – 1! the score line! with barely time left to go and the U’s had get an equalizer quickly! All efforts proved futile as Lamin Lodge continued to shut down the game. The referee blew his final whistle at the end of the two added minutes and for the second time in a row, the U’s dropped points and were left with the challenge with a “must win” game against London Utd who also lost their second game on Saturday evening 2 – 0 to Kevlavic F.C. Things can still happen for any team depending on their last games but it’s really a pity to see a once brilliant terrorizing club suffer for a place through to the next stage.
Sutton Utd: D. Sanyang, E.Bojang (L.Badjie 45th), L. Jawla, Pa Siaka Kinteh, James Mendy (Kaka 63rd), M. Joof, B. Mass, M.Sibi, M. Jatta (F. Correa), E.Bojang, S. Bangura
Subs not Used: Jimoh, M. Njie, S. Jallow, P.Gomez
Booked: E. Bojang, M. Sibi, M. Joof, L. Badjie
Goal: E. Bojang
Kevlavic 3 SUFC (Gambia) 0
It is normal for a team to loose 3 – 0 in a league opener match but when a team concedes three penalty kicks and an own goal in the first forty-five minutes of play, then certainly eyes brows will begin to life wide.
Such was the situation with the U’s when they lost 3 goals to nil away to Kevlavic F.C. who also were the better team and played a better entertaining football on the evening. The home team gave it all they had right from the start with their beautiful mesmeric style of play (play happy win lucky). As early as the 12th minute, Karamo a veteran player played a dummy on two Sutton players before unleashing a thunderous shot which flew inches above the cross-bar. In the nineteenth minute, the U’s conceded their first penalty for the night as a result of their poor football through Augustus Mendy after he handled the ball in the 18yrd area and up stepped Dawda from the Kevlavic midfield to notch the ball into the net and sending Buba Jobe the wrong way. Augustine’s troubles increased in the 27th minute when he headed the ball in an attempt to clear off safety but to his agony the ball flew over the already stranded looking Buba and before the chasing Solomon could react, an opposing Kevlavic player had cleverly fend him off to make the score line 2-0. In the 34th minute another penalty was awarded against U’s and it was the same No. 4 Augustine grapping the headlines when he gave away another penalty and this time for a clumsy challenge on a player who was in a good position to score - Due to the loose marking of the opposition players, a fantastic offense was launched by the Kevlavic side which saw their star man Ba Saikou (who just two seasons ago was a regular and playing In the first division with Arm Forces) forced in a magnificent pass to Hatab – their point striker before Ougis (Augustine Mendy) made the tackle from behind. Again stepped up the already terrorizing Dawda showed up and buried the ball into the net and beating Buba a second time and the scores were by now 3-0. Dawda had the chance to grab a hat-trick just before the end of the first half in the 43rd minute when the referee issued a third penalty to kevlavic when Hatab dived from a Buba Jobe challenge but the man in black in the centre of the pitch, it was an impediment and pointed at the penalty spot. Dawda again stood up to the occasion but Buba made sure he was not beaten a third time from the spot and made a fine reflex save.
Sutton United made a lot of reshuffling internally after the break with Ougis giving way to Hena (an attacking midfielder) and the holding midfielder Solomon had to drop deep to play the attacking role which also saw the completely ineffective Jimoh moved to play behind the point striking Ebou.
The second half saw a few chances for both teams with the U’s playing a totally changed and much better football on display in the first half. Basirou Mass saw his fierce shot saved coolly after being laid on by Jimoh, however the U’s real chance came in the 79th minute when Ebou Bojang started a run in his own half taking on a couple of opposing defenders before lifting up a cross which found Jimoh but for inexperience, the lad tried a rather spectacular overhead kick and missed, squandering the only real chance. 3-0 was the score line to remain to the end but for the U’s, a lot needs to be done on and off the pitch before the next game against probably the group’s favorites – Lamin Lodge F.C.
|
