Of the 23 sides alongside Sutton in this season’s National League, there is only one with whom U’s have never crossed paths competitively before, and that situation will end tomorrow after Stockport County make their first ever visit to Gander Green Lane.
Stockport are associated by many football followers with the Football League, having been members from 1900 until 2011, but it is as a promoted side that they make the trip south tomorrow, having won the National League North championship last season.
They started their first season back at this level in decent form, losing just once in eight games following their opening day defeat to Maidenhead, but after a run of three consecutive victories they have now lost their last five games,conceding fifteen goals and scoring just one, a run that began with a 3-0 loss at Chorley which gave their promotion rivals from last season their only win of the season to date.
Sutton have won one of the last nine games, a crushing defeat of Chesterfield a fortnight ago, and while the performances against Dagenham and Harrogate deserved more than they got, three points would be welcome tomorrow and would put U’s above Stockport, who are currently two places and two points higher.
U’s could welcome back Dale Bennett from injury, while Stockport’s side could include former Barnsley, Wolves and Scunthorpe winger Adam Hammill, who recently joined the Edgeley Park team.
Tomorrow’s game will be segregated, so all Sutton supporters must enter vis the Gander Green Lane turnstiles. Tickets are on sale on line at a discount until midnight tonight.
After tomorrow’s game supporters are invited to stay and watch the annual Tache Trophy encounter, when a number of former Sutton favourites will take to the pitch in memory of former player and manager John Rains. It is hoped the game will kick off as soon after the Stockport game as possible, and it always provides a mixture of entertainment and nostalgia.
