Craig Dundas Testimonial: Match Report

Gander Green Lane got to roll back the years as some Sutton legends went head to head in honour of Craig Dundas, who received his long-awaited testimonial match.

Paul Doswell’s 2017 FA Cup Squad XI went into the break ahead after Ross Lafayette had opened the scoring after just six minutes, stroking a cross from the right flank past Seb Brown, before the EFL & National League XI turned the game on its head when David Ajiboye and Moses Emmanuel sent Matt Gray’s side into the lead with strikes either end of the second half.

A late goal from Leroy Griffiths levelled things up for Doswell’s side though and sent the match to penalties, with Emmanuel firing home the winning penalty after Kevin Amankwaah was denied by Fabian Witter.

The list of former Sutton players who turned up to take part in a game was fantastic, with stars including Jamie Collins, Craig Eastmond, Nicky Bailey, Rob Milsom, Dean Beckwith, Ross Lafayette, Toby Sho-Silva and David Ajiboye, alongside Dundas himself, and proved to be a tremendous day as the club got to honour a true club legend.

Following a guard of honour that allowed the main man to receive his standout moment, the game kicked off in fast fashion as Doswell’s side took the lead inside the opening ten minutes. A low ball across goal from the right was met by Lafayette who, like he did many times in a Sutton shirt during the 2017/18 campaign, made no mistake from close range and stroked the ball past Brown.

We were then transported back to the 2020/21 promotion-winning campaign, as Ajiboye went on a mazy solo run that resulted in a high shot that Ross Worner managed to keep out, shortly before Toby Sho-Silva got in behind before striking the ball across the face of goal.

Dundas then tried his luck from distance as a powerful shot from 30-yards flew over the crossbar, before Milsom had the chance to replicate his heroics of the title-winning match against Hartlepool United in 2021, as he fired a free kick from just outside the penalty area into the wall.

Action remained ripe at that end though, with Dundas been awarded the chance to mark his own testimonial with a goal after going down inside the box, however he couldn’t covert from 12-yards as he struck his effort high and over the crossbar.

Gray’s side continued to see the better chances though, with Milsom once again going close when he scuffed a shot from the edge of the box over the crossbar, shortly before the referee brought a close to proceedings.

The two teams came out for the second half with a number of changes, and preceded the last contribution from captain Collins, who sent a free kick into the wall before being replaced.

Ajiboye soon scored an equaliser though, showing he still has bags of ability and plenty to offer at Football League level, when he drilled a low shot into the far corner to level the score.

Gray’s side then went close again through Moses Emmanuel who saw a shot cleared off the line, but soon added his name to the scoresheet when he rose highest to meet a deflected cross and get the smallest of touches onto the ball, but was enough to guide his header towards goal, with the current Billericay Town striker watching as his effort sneaked over the line to turn the game on its head.

Gray then made a couple of notable changes, as former kit man Clive Baxter and club photographer Paul Loughlin were both introduced, either side of Griffiths drilling a powerful strike over the line to level the score, and send the game to a penalty shootout.

The first seven penalties were all scored, with Baxter, Bailey, Enzio Boldewijn, Milsom, Dundas and Ajiboye all converting from 12 yards, before Amankwaah stepped up and saw his shot saved by Witter. This gave Emmanuel the chance to win the game for the EFL & National League XI, who made no mistake from the spot to secure a 5-3 win on penalties, and bring the curtain down on a fantastic occasion enjoyed by players and fans alike.