Match Report

For the second time this season Sutton and Stockport failed to produce a goal, with U’s considerably happier at coming back from Edgeley Park with a point than they had been at their failure to land a shot on target at Gander Green Lane in October. Just as in that game, with better finishing U’s might have come away with all three points, but in the end there were few complaints at a hard-earned point and a clean sheet.

With a sense of optimism around the ground following a club takeover and three new signings in the week leading up to the game, it was important for U’s to start well to dull the enthusiasm of the home support that numbered just under 5,000, and the first twenty minutes were probably U’s best of the game. With Eddie Clarke, one of the three new faces, given a torrid time by David Ajiboye U’s began in impressive style, with Ajiboye’s deflected cross cleared from under the crossbar by Ash Palmer as Tommy Wright lurked at the far post, and before fifteen minutes were up Omar Bugiel had headed just over from a Jon Barden cross, and after another incisive run and cross from Ajiboye, Wright brought the ball down on his chest but then volleyed over the top.

Ajiboye also failed to direct a shot from the edge of the penalty area, but after surviving the first twenty minutes Stockport proved more of a threat and as the half went on it was U’s who were on the defensive. Elliott Osborne sent a shot just wide from twenty yards, and Nik Tzanev had to react quickly to keep out a Liam McAlinden free kick that came through a crowd of players, and when the half time whistle came U’s were probably the more relieved.

After the interval there was little between the sides but always Sutton seemed to carry the greater threat around the penalty area. Bugiel turned a shot just over at the near post from a fine ball in by Kyel Reid, and when Wright sent in a similarly dangerous cross from the right soon afterwards, Ben Hinchcliffe pushed it away as Harry Beautyman came in at the far post and Reid’s follow up effort was blocked in the six yard box. Wright then created space on the edge of the area for a low shot that was well saved by Hinchcliffe to his right, but should have done better with what may have been U’s best chance of the afternoon when he ran on to a superb pass from Kenny Davis but, perhaps not realising the time he had, went for a first time volley and could only mis-kick straight at Hinchcliffe.

For much of the time U’s defence coped with Stockport’s attacking threat, and the quality of Louis John’s performance against debutant Jordan Archer was underlined when the striker was substituted with just under quarter of an hour to go. Festus Arthur did find room to turn and shoot over the bar, but Tzanev’s only other moment of worry had been when he had to come out and tip the ball away from Archer after a slightly wayward header from John, and U’s kept a third clean sheet in the last four away league games to ensure their point.

Stockport: B Hinchcliffe, D Cowan, E Clarke, P Turnbull, A Palmer, F Arthur, A Thomas(sub N Bell 83), J Keane, J Archer(sub F Mulhern 77), E Osborne(sub B Jackson 68), L McAlinden. Subs n/u S Minihan, I Ormson.

Referee: Aaron Jackson