Match Report

Sutton rounded off a spectacular Christmas week by claiming a third consecutive Vanarama National League victory and deny Yeovil the chance to move to the top of the table. A point would have seen the Glovers take over at the top in advance of Barrow’s afternoon game at Hartlepool, but another performance of tremendous spirit from U’s was enough to claim all the points in a game that wouldn’t have disappointed those tuning in to BT’s live coverage, and move them seven points clear of the bottom four, and within five of the playoffs.

The clash of two of the division’s most in-form strikers, Omar Bugiel and Courtney Duffus, each with five goals in the last two games, didn’t take place after Omar’s partner gave birth to a daughter in the early hours of Saturday morning, but Aaron Jarvis took his chance with a whole-hearted performance and a major role in the goal with which Ben Goodliffe brought U’s level just before half time and just after a fluke goal at the other end had given the visitors the lead.

It was an evenly-matched game for long periods, and early chances were at a premium. Rob Milsom almost marked his return to the left back position with a free kick that was just too high, but it was U’s who struck first midway through the half with a goal that had Harry Beautyman’s name against it but was largely the work of David Ajiboye, who, having kept the ball in on the left touchline, then dispossessed Miles Hipployte to race clear on the left, skip past the challenge of Lawson D’Ath, and play a perfectly timed pass across the face of goal to present Beautyman with his chance to go in to double figures in the league this season.

U’s had struggled at times to keep possession when clearing from the back, and the failing cost them two minutes later when a loose pass was returned in to the penalty area. Goodliffe and Jon Barden got in each other’s way as they each tried to head clear, and Rhys Murphy pounced to force the ball past Nik Tzanev.

Twelve minutes later came another blow for U’s as they again surrendered possession, and then gave Duffus too much time on the edge of the area to line up a shot. It wouldn’t have mattered, the shot low and lacking threat, until it caught Albi Skendi on the heel and looped up over the stranded Tzanev to drop in to the net. This time, though, it was Sutton’s chance to reply immediately, as a free kick from the left was knocked down by Louis John for Jarvis, who hooked the ball across goal and it fell for Goodliffe to place in to the net for his first Sutton goal.

Yeovil should have found themselves ahead within two minutes of the start of the second half when a superb pass by Hippolyte split U’s defence and let Duffus clear to shoot past Tzanev, and the visiting supporters were already celebrating when the ball came back of the inside of the post, and before Duffus could react to the rebound Milsom knocked the ball away for a corner. It was a huge reprieve for U’s, and they made the most of it just after the hour mark with a goal that summed up the attitude in the squad at the moment, Tommy Wright outpacing Gabriel Osho to reach Kenny Davis’s long pass and, under pressure from the defender and goalkeeper Stuart Nelson, managing to force the ball away for Ajiboye, who had continued his run and was rewarded for his enterprise with an open goal to roll the ball in to (above).

U’s were indebted to Tzanev for one terrific save as he tipped over a 25-yard shot from D’Ath that was heading under the bar, and from the resulting corner Luke Wilkinson volleyed over, but apart from that U’s were able to see out the last quarter of the game relatively comfortably to complete a superb week.

Yeovil: S Nelson; R Hutton, C Dickinson, C Lee(sub C Dagnall 74), G Osho(sub M Williams 64), L Wilkinson, C Duffus, L D’Ath, R Murphy, A Skendi, M Hippolyte(sub J Tilley 74). Subs n/u Worthington, Omatayo. Booked: Lee, Dickinson.

Referee: Adrian Quelch