Tuesday 13 October – Suburban League Premier Division

SUTTON UTD 3 ASHFORD TOWN (MIDDX) 1

Sutton extended their lead at the top of the Suburban League to nine points with a comfortable victory even though they had to play the last twenty minutes a man short after Billy Chattaway had been sent off. Ashford started the game well, with Paul Smith having to make one good diving save from a 25 yard shot, and a volley from just inside the penalty area went just over, but in U's first serious attack they went ahead when Daniel Harding headed in Stuart Young's free kick. Dwain Williams almost had a second when his shot following a corner beat the keeper but was cleared off the line, and Young then hit the bar after Jerson Dos Santos had pulled the ball back from the right. Three minutes later we struck woodwork again, Harry Ottaway out of luck this time with a low shot that came back off the post, but there was no reprieve for Ashford on the next attack as Harding followed in to score after the keeper had parried Williams' long range shot. Young sent a shot just wide as we looked for more goals, but at the other end a looping header went just wide and our former reserve Munir Dar had a shot saved by Smith. Early in the second half Chattaway saw a shot divert away off the keeper's legs, but Ashford then pulled a goal back through Dar's volley, and when Chattaway, earlier booked for delaying a restart, was shown a second yellow card for a foul we looked in for an anxious last twenty minutes. The visitors couldn't capitalise, though, and Stefan Joseph secured the points when he sprung the offside trap and rounded the keeper to score with three minutes left.

Sutton: Paul Smith, Jazz Gold, Billy Chattaway, Chris Beard, John Cartledge, Elliot Mitchell, Stuart Young, Dwain Williams, Jerson Dos Santos(sub Daniel Gurney 76), Daniel Harding, Harry Ottaway(sub Stefan Joseph 68). Subs n/u Tommy Kavanagh, Charlie Ottaway, Michael Hunte. Goals: Harding(14,24), Joseph(87). Booked: Chattaway(53-delaying restart). Sent Off: Chattaway (69-foul-second bookable offence)