| After a month of pre-season friendlies, Sutton finally take to the field in a competitive game on Saturday when the Ryman League season begins with an away game at Harlow Town. Manager Paul Doswell says that everyone is looking forward to it. ‘’It’s been a long pre-season, but we’ve had an excellent week’s training this week and there’s been a great atmosphere among the players, and we can’t wait for the season to get under way properly.’’ U’s will welcome back centre back Chris Collins, who returned from his honeymoon this week in time to take part in training on Thursday, and also have goalkeeper Paul Nicholls back in the starting line-up, but Alan Bray is suspended for the first two league games as he completes a three match ban following his sending-off against Welling last season, and three players face late fitness tests. U’s haven’t lost a competitive game against Harlow, who they last played in February 1985, when they drew 1-1 at the Harlow Sportscentre, one of four draws in the five league games U’s played there, the only definite result being U’s 2-1 win in August 1981. Another draw, also 1-1, was 28 years ago to the day on Saturday, the first game of a 1980-81 season that ended for U’s in the FA Trophy final at Wembley. Harlow finished one point outside the Premier Division relegation zone last season, their first after promotion from Division One North. |
