Match Centre

Looking on course to extend an unbeaten run in the Enterprise National League to six games when Will Tizzard opened the scoring four minutes after half time, Sutton instead went down to a second 4-1 defeat on successive Saturdays as Solihull struck back with three goals in the ten minutes following Tizzard’s strike, and rounded their afternoon off in stoppage time after U’s had been reduced to ten men for the third consecutive game by the dismissal of Edon Pruti.

Jake Taylor joined Junior Eccleston on the suspended list, although David Ogbonna was able to return, so Charlie Bell started in midfield while Will Tizzard replaced Jack Taylor in defence and there were debuts for Omari Mrisho on the right and Davide Rodari up front.

Rodari and Ogbonna were both involved in almost setting up an early goal for Sutton, Rodari releasing Ogbonna on the left to send in a low cross that was turned just wide of the near post by Jayden Harris. Rodari twice had a sight of goal, getting one shot away quickly in the penalty area but seeing the effort blocked, and then heading over from Lewis Simper’s cross, and with Sutton shading the first half Bell had a low shot tipped just wide by goalkeeper Laurie Walker.

Sutton’s first danger at the other end was self inflicted as Hayden Muller’s pass across the penalty area was intercepted by Bradley Stevenson, who sent his shot straight at Sims, while U’s keeper was at full stretch to turn over a Tyrese Sinclair header, but neither side could gain the upper hand in a first half that gave little hint of what was to come after the break.

U’s started the second half on the front foot and were rewarded when, after Rodari had seen two shots blocked in a goalmouth skirmish, the ball ran to Tizzard who sent the ball goalwards through a crowd of players from just inside the penalty area and Walker, perhaps seeing it late, was too slow to react to prevent the ball finding the net.

The afternoon then unravelled for Sutton as Muller lost possession just inside his own half and Sinclair went down the left and crossed to the far post where Darius Lipsiuc was unchallenged as he volleyed home. Two minutes later U’s again gave the ball away in a dangerous area, this time Bell dispossessed by Ben Worman having received a pass from Pruti under pressure, and Worman rolled the ball square for Sinclair to strike a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that beat Sims to his left. Even worse followed as Sinclair, the afternoon’s outstanding performer, combined with substitute Joe Sbarra on the left and pulled a pass back to Scott High, who blasted home Solihull’s third goal in six minutes.

Sutton have come from two goals down before this season away from home and there were signs that they could repeat the act. Harris shot wide from close range when it looked easier to score after Rodari had knocked Lewis Simper’s free kick back across goal, and Kai Jennings saw a free kick acrobatically tipped away by Walker at his near post.

Solihull still threatened, though, and Sims made two good stops from substitute Jacob Wakeling before hopes of a recovery were reduced as U’s defence was further decimated, first as Muller limped off injured, and then eight minutes from time Pruti was shown a red card for clattering in to Wakeling.

Solihull took advantage to find more space as they attacked quickly, Sims saving from Wakeling and another replacement, Emmanuel Sonupe, who also had a goal ruled out for offside after Sbarra’s deflected shot had come back off the bar, but they weren’t to be denied a fourth on another swift attack in stoppage time as High exchanged passes with Sbarra and raced through a huge gap in U’s defence to fire past the helpless Sims.

Sutton: J Sims, O Mrisho, W Tizzard, H Muller(sub A Jones 72), E Pruti, K Jennings, D Ogbonna, L Simper, D Rodari, J Harris, C Bell(sub E Vaz 84). Subs n/u Jack Taylor, B Njoku, D Urpens, B Sheargold, D Aziaya. Booked: Mrisho, Bell. Sent Off: Pruti.

Solihull: L Walker, J Clarke, G Nurse, J Osborne(sub O Tipton 60), A Whitmore, T French, D Lipsiuc(sub O Rutherford 85), S High, B Stevenson(sub J Wakeling 60), T Sinclair(sub E Sonupe 85), B Worman(sub J Sbarra 56). Subs n/u B Nicholson, A Flahavan. Booked: Stevenson, French.

Referee: Elliott Swallow

Attendance: 885(110 away)

Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin