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Kick off 15:00 (UK)

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2-0
15 July 2023 Venue VBS Community Stadium Attendance

Kick off 15:00 (UK)

Sutton United
2 - 0
Reading
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Match Previews

Sutton v Reading preview and travel news

14 July 2023

Sutton's first home game of the 2023-24 pre-season campaign is at the VBS Community Stadium on Saturday against League One Reading.

The Berkshire side lost theier Championship status at the end of last season, a six point deduction leaving them five points adrift of 21st placed Cardiff, and Saturday's game will see them under the guidance of Ruben Selles for the first time, the Spaniard taking over officially on Friday. He was in charge of Southampton during the latter part of last season but unable to prevent them being relegated from the Premier League.

In the squad on Saturday for the Royals is likely to be goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis, an important member of the Sutton line-up in our 2020-21 National League championship season and our successful first EFL season including playing a major part in our run to the EFL Trophy final. Former England striker Andy Carroll is also a member of the squad for the coming season.

Sutton's pre-season campaign began with a 3-2 win at Havant & Waterlooville on Tuesday, with two goals from triallists and one from new signing Josh Coley, and U's will hope for another positive step on Saturday in the warm-up to the new League Two season.

Supporters should note that there are no trains through West Sutton on Saturday due to engineering works. Southern services to Sutton station are operating - the station is about a 15-20 minute walk from the ground, with buses 80 and 413 running past the ground from the station. Both those services also run from Morden Underground station (Northern Line). A reminder that car parking at the ground is reserved for permit holders only.

Ground admission on Saturday is £12 for adults, £7 for concessions (age 60+; full time students) and £3 for juniors age 12-18. Tickets for Under 12s are free if bought in conjunction with an adult or concession ticket. All prices rise £4 for a seat. Tickets can be bought here. They will also be available from the ticket kiosk on the day with no rise in price.

Season tickets are valid for the game and should be shown at the turnstile for admission, and anyone who hasn't yet bought one of our excellent value season tickets can do so online here, or at the downstairs club office before the game which will then enable them to use the season ticket for the game.

The fan zone will not be open on Saturday, but the club bars are open before the game and supporters are welcome for a pre-match drink. However note that the MBA Lounge will not be open after the game due to a private function, and for the same reason the Players' Bar will close at 6pm, however the 1898 Lounge will remain open to all after 6pm.

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Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 2 Reading 0

15 July 2023

Sutton United 2 (Triallist F 57, Triallist C 60) Reading 0

Sutton made it two wins out of two in the pre-season programme as two goals in three second half minutes earned a victory over League One Reading in blustery conditions at the VBS Community Stadium. Both goals came from triallists, the second from the winger who had opened the scoring at Havant on Tuesday, and came just before U's made wholesale changes on the hour mark. U's fielded all five triallists who had featured at Havant plus a sixth who entered the fray at half time and helped himself to the first goal twelve minutes after coming on.

Both sides enjoyed better fortunes when playing in to the unseasonably strong wind, and Steve Arnold had to make smart saves from Nesta Guinness-Walker and Femi Azeez, but the visitors' best chance fell to Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan, who ran on to a pass from Kelvin Abrefa and rounded Arnold but was unable to hit the target as he sent his shot behind the goal. A header from a corner also flew just wide as Reading enjoyed the better of the first half.

Former U's goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis was only tested by free kicks from Harry Beautyman and Rob Milsom as Sutton struggled to create clear chances with the wind on their backs, with the best chance going begging when Tope Fadahunsi slightly overhit a pass to the left wing triallist who would have had a clear run on goal.

U's had to make a change midway through the half when Omar Sowunmi came off to be replaced by Ollie Khinda, the academy graduate again impressing at right back as Joe Kizzi moved in to the middle.

U's made two changes at half time, Harry Smith and the triallist replacing two of the first half triallists, but it was Reading who came close to breaking the deadlock when a low cross from Azeez deflected off Harry Beautyman and Arnold reacted well to tip the ball over the bar. Having survived that chance Sutton took the lead when the left wing triallist attacked on the left before squaring a pass for the recently arrived triallist to beat a player before scoring with a low shot that deflected past substitute Reading goalkeeper Jokull Andresson.

Three minutes later and the left winger had his second goal in as many games, again attacking on the left before firing in a shot that went in off the underside of the bar.

That was the cue for U's to replace the eight players who had been on since the start, with Reading changing their entire line-up at the same time, but chances after the changes were few and far between, with Jack Rose making one good save down to his left and at the other end Lee Angol crowded out before he could get a shot away as Sutton closed out an encouraging victory against higher ranked opposition.

Sutton: S Arnold(sub J Rose 60), J Kizzi(sub C Dundas 60), R Milsom(sub S Hart 60), O Sowunmi(sub O Khinda 23), Triallist A(sub B Goodliffe 60), Triallist C (sub C Clay 60), Triallist D(sub Triallist F H-T), C N'Guessan(sub C Eastmond 60), Triallist E(sub H Smith H-T), H Beautyman(sub L Angol 60), T Fadahunsi (sub J Coley 60).

Triallist letters correspond to those used on Tuesday eg Triallist A for this game was also triallist A on Tuesday. Triallist F did not play on Tuesday, and triallist B from Tuesday did not play today.

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