Sutton United vs Charlton Athletic on 16 Jul 22 - Match Centre

After beginning the pre-season schedule with three away friendlies, winning all of them, Sutton continue the preparation for the new EFL campaign with three games at the VBS Community Stadium, and the first of those is on Saturday at home to Charlton Athletic (kick off 3pm)

Charlton finished 13th in League One last season, a poor start leading to the departure of manager Nigel Adkins, and although Johnnie Jackson steered them to the safety of mid-table he was replaced during the summer by Ben Garner, a former Suburban League player with Sutton who took Swindon to the League Two play-offs last season.

For Sutton's home supporters it will be the first chance to see new signings Sam Hart, Josh Neufville and Kwame Thomas, and also goalkeeper Jack Rose if he has recovered from the groin injury that saw him substituted just before half time at Havant last Saturday, a game U's won 2-1, sandwiched by a 2-1 win at Dorking and a 2-0 success at Dulwich on Tuesday. Manager Matt Gray is hopeful that Omar Bugiel, Ben Goodliffe, Adam Lovatt and Donovan Wilson, who all missed the game at Dulwich with minor knocks, will be fit to play some part in a game likely to be played in hot conditions.

Charlton have also played three friendlies so far, losing 1-0 against Kilmarnock in Spain but recording victories at Dartford (6-1) and Colchester(4-2). They last visited Sutton in 2004 for a friendly, winning 4-0.

As the gate receipts for this game are being shared, Sutton United season tickets will NOT be valid for this game and every spectator must buy a match ticket.

Prices are: Adults £10, Concessions £6 and Juniors £3, with a £2 increase for a seat. Tickets for Under 12s are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket.

Sutton supporters can purchase their tickets by clicking here - as segregation will be in force for the game, Charlton supporters have their own link which can be reached through the Charlton website here.

Tickets will be on sale on the day of the game but must be bought from the ticket office before entering through the turnstiles. The £2 increase that will come in to effect when the EFL season starts will not be in place for this game.

Supporters who have not yet bought a season ticket can do so in person tomorrow even though it will not be valid for this game. They can be bought from Adrian Barry in the downstairs club office. Season tickets WILL be valid for the other two home friendlies against Woking on Tuesday and Bromley on Saturday.

Car parking is available to supporters who held valid car park passes last season. However the number of spaces remains lower than in the past and as such spaces will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis with the car park shutting an hour before kick off. You must display your last season’s permit to show the steward at the Gander Green Lane entrance.

There are still spaces at the pre-match lunch, which is open to home and away supporters, price £20 for a two course meal plus coffee, from 12.30 in the MBA Lounge (bar opens 12.00). Email chairman@suttonunited.net if you would like to join us.

The game is being live streamed by Charlton Athletic with the revenue being split between the teams - match passes are £6 and can be bought here. We will have our usual audio Mixlr commentary, and we are also hosting the BBC Radio London team who are presenting their Saturday sports show from the ground between 2pm and 6pm.

A match programme has been produced for all three of our home friendlies, price £2 plus postage, and can be ordered on line here, and is also included in the 2022/23 programme subscription which is now available for £65 plus postage here.

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Match Previews

Sutton's winning pre-season run came to an end in sweltering conditions at the VBS Community Stadium with a draw against League One Charlton which might have been a victory had late pressure turned in to a goal.

Considering the conditions it was a reasonably entertaining game, with the first half seeing both sides threaten on the flanks, with Will Randall impressing for Sutton and sending one cross cum shot which went just past the post, while Enzio Boldewijn's cross from the right was tipped away under pressure by goalkeeper Joe Wollacott. Charlie Kirk was Charlton's most dangerous player, and after firing in two crosses, one of which was headed away at full stretch by Ben Goodliffe and the other held well by Brad House, he came closest to opening the scoring on the stroke of half time when he collected a cross from Jayden Stockley on the edge of the penalty area and sent in a dipping shot which House did well to tip over the bar.

Early in the second half Randall again found himself in a promising position after good work by Kouassi but his cross was scrambled away at the near post, and it was Kirk who again almost set up a goal with a cross which was headed powerfully down but wide by Ryan Inniss.

On the hour, Tope Fadahunsi, who had impressed sufficiently as a triallist on Tuesday at Dulwich to be added to U's close season signings, replaced Thomas with the bulk of the other changes coming with quarter of an hour left, Luke Gambin making his first appearance as an official Sutton player having signed before the game, and Sutton enjoyed a good spell as Ali Smith saw a long range shot saved by Wollacott, and was denied by the keeper again on the end of a fine move involving Josh Neufville and Fadahunsi. Neufville saw another dangerous cross flash across goal, and also forced a near post clearance from a Charlton defender before coming close to a late winner when he drifted in from the left but saw his shot diverted just wide.

Charlton had also changed the majority of their side at the same time as U's, only Wollacott playing the full 90 minutes, but House had a relatively untroubled second half as the game ended goalless.

Sutton: B House, J Barden(sub J Kizzi 74), R Milsom(sub S Hart 74), C Eastmond(sub A Smith 74), B Goodliffe(sub T Ogudega 74), L John (sub C Rowe 74), E Boldewijn(sub L Gambin 74), K Kouassi(sub C Dundas 81), K Thomas(sub T Fadahunsi 74), H Beautyman, W Randall(sub J Neufville 74)

Match Reports

Sutton United

Sutton v Charlton preview and match information, including streaming

Match report for Sutton United 0 Charlton Athletic 0