Match Report

Sutton made it two wins out if two in the new season when they shrugged off the disappointment of an Aldershot equaliser with fifteen minutes left to bounce back with their best spell of the second half and grab all the points when a free kick from Will Randall ended up in the net off home defender Alex Finney. Still missing Ben Goodliffe and Louis John it was a battling performance from U’s, who were the better side in the first half but came under pressure from the home side after the break culminating in Mo Bettamer’s headed equaliser.

It was a largely scrappy game, but U’s had the upper hand during the first half and should have scored after 18 minutes when Omar Bugiel did well on the right before cutting back a low cross, and Tobi Sho-Silva’s goalbound shot was blocked by Jamie Sndles-White. Will Randall also had a low shot claimed by goalkeeper Mitch Walker, but the goalkeeper was less certain as U’s took the lead six minutes before half time. Rob Milsom swung in a fine free kick from the right that Walker was unable to gather, and Craig Eastmond dived to head home, picking up a whack for his trouble which required treatment before the game could restart.

The home side had far more attacking intent in the second half and U’s goal came under pressure, although it was U’s who came closest to a second goal after Joel Nouble was booked for a foul just outside the penalty area, and Walker made a fine save to his left to keep out Milsom’s free kick. Moments later there was a similar incident at the other end, as Eastmond was booked for a foul and Bettamer who was denied by a good save from Bouzanis. Nouble also diverted a Craig Tanner cross just wide of the post with Bouzanis wrongfooted, but the deserved equaliser did come when Tanner’s corner was headed in at the far post by Bettamer.

The goal seemed to spur U’s back to their form of the first half, and with five minutes left Randall was fouled by George Fowler close to the left touchline, and swung in a free kick that again caused trouble in the six yard box and rebounded in off Finney.

Last season U’s had seen their chances of victory dashed deep in to injury time, and there was almost a repeat as Josh Rees got his head to a ball chipped in from the left but this time it went just wide of the post and U’s held on for only their second win at Aldershot, the first coming in September 1998 en route to the Isthmian League title.

Aldershot: M Walker, G Fowler, A Finney, J Sendles-White, S Ogie, K Lyons-Foster (sub J Rowe 69), J Rees, T Edser (sub A Whittingham 85), C Tanner, M Bettamer, J Nouble (sub K Colombie 75). Subs n/u H Panayiotou, R Hall. Booked: Nouble, Edser.

ABOVE PHOTO BY KIND PERMISSION OF IAN MORSMAN