Match Centre

A powerful second half performance, making the most of the conditions, saw Sutton storm in to the semi finals of the National League Academy Cup against South Division leaders Southend, who had also recently reached the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup. Turning round at half time just one goal down having played in to the wind in the first half, U’s struck four without reply with the conditions in their favour, Rashaad Drysdale and Bobby Sheargold each scoring twice, Sheargold having replaced the injured Jayden Obarotimi midway through the first half.

Playing in to the elements U’s were under pressure for spells in the first half after Drysdale had sent an early chance over the bar, but Klevis Muca was in fine form in Sutton’s goal, combining with Geri Katana to block a close range effort after a low left wing cross had slithered out of his grasp, and then saving well at his near post from a Joe Poxon header which looked to have beaten him before tipping over a 25 yard shot from Alfie Humphrey. He had no chance seven minutes before half time, though, when Katana missed his kick trying to clear a through ball and Southend striker Nikolay Zlatev went on to round Muca and slot home.

U’s reached the break with no further damage, and within three minutes of turning round had levelled the scores when Drysdale was put through on the right by Kai McKenzie and kept ahead of the defender to score with a low shot. After Southend had replied with two shots just over the bar in quick succession, Sutton began to dominate and Drysdale almost had a second when his deflected shot was blocked by goalkeeper Joshua Barrett’s legs, while Dan Urpens shot in to the side netting. The home side were finding it increasingly difficult to get out of their own half and eventually following a goal kick that was returned by Luke Ashburn, Tolani Bello and Charlie Bell combined to put Sheargold in on the left and he cut in before placing his shot in to the far corner of the net.

Drysdale again went close when he ran to a through ball but lifted his shot just past, but moments later when McKenzie again put him through he opted to go for power and blasted the ball in to the roof of the net. Two minutes from time Southend’s efforts to play out from the back failed again as Chinedum Ohanweh’s clearance rebounded off Humphrey in the penalty area and fell for Sheargold who had a simple task to find the net, rounding off a fine Sutton performance and completing a hat trick of 4-1 wins for U’s in the League Cup. U’s will be away to Slough in the semi-final on Wednesday March 18th. The other semi final sees Chester at home to FC Halifax Town.

Sutton: K Muca, C Lee, G Katana(sub L Ashburn H-T), D Urpens, A Reeves, N Nzuzi(sub R Ruiz 90), R Drysdale, C Bell, K McKenzie(sub T Salaam 88), O Bello, J Obarotimi(sub B Sheargold 22).

This Saturday it’s back to EFL Youth Alliance action away to Barnet at The Hive, kick off 12.30pm, before two National League Academy South games next week, at home to Maidstone on Monday (Leatherhead Youth FC, 1.00pm) and away to Eastleigh on Wednesday(venue and kick off time to be confirmed).