Sutton v Aldershot preview and travel news

28 July 2023

Sutton's pre-season schedule of friendlies comes to a close on Saturday afternoon when National League Aldershot Town visit the VBS Community Stadium (kick off 3pm). It will be a first public outing for Sutton's new third choice predominantly all white kit.

After facing opposition who finished towards the top of the National League on Tuesday at Woking, who beat U's 2-0, Sutton this time come up against a side who were at the wrong end of the table for much of the season before finishing 18th, five points above the relegation zone. Manager Tommy Widdrington, who took over in April and saw Aldershot unbeaten for the six games in which he was in charge, has added two former Sutton players to his squad among a number of summer signings, securing the services of Coby Rowe and Kwame Thomas.

Sutton will be looking to finish the pre-season programme on a high note, having won the first two but failed to win any of the next three. Supporters are likely to see the newest addition to Matt Gray's squad, Omari Patrick, for the first time, and will recall that last season a defeat against Woking was followed by a victory against Bromley to round off the pre-season schedule.

Admission prices are £10 for adults, £6 for concessions and £2 for age 12-18, with under 12s admitted free if accompanied by a paying adult or concession. Seats are £4 extra in all cases. Tickets can be bought on line here or bought on the day at the ground. Aldershot supporters have their own link for away tickets here.

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. Stand season ticket holders are advised to arrive in good time to ensure they can sit in their normal seat.

The home fan zone will not be open tomorrow, but bars will be open before the game for supporters to enjoy a pre-match drink, and while the MBA Lounge will be closed for a private party after the game the players' bar will be open.

Due to the rail strike on Saturday there are no trains through West Sutton. Southern are operating a half hourly service from Victoria via Mitcham Junction and a separate half hourly service via West Croydon, both calling at Sutton station, which is a 15-20 minute walk from the ground. Buses 80 and 413 both go past the ground from Sutton station. The Northern Line to Morden, from where you can also catch the 80 or 413, is running as normal.

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Match Reports

Match report for Sutton United 0 Aldershot Town 1

29 July 2023

Sutton United 0 Aldershot Town 1 (Tolaj 23)

Sutton's pre-season campaign ended with a second consecutive defeat against National League opposition as LAurent Tolaj's goal midway through the first half was enough to give Aldershot victory. The visitors will feel they deserved the success, with Jack Rose making several good saves in the first half to prevent further damage for U's.

Omar Sowunmi returned to action after missing several games, lining up alongside academy graduate Jack Taylor in central defence, while there was a debut in Sutton colours for Omari Patrick, who showed several good moments on the left before being one of several changes just after the hour mark.

Another recent addition to the squad, Scott Kashket, might have scored for Sutton inside the first five minutes when he created good space inside the penalty area but sliced his shot wide, but it was Aldershot who had the better chances inside the first fifteen minutes as Rose saved well from Jack Barham with his legs, and Barham then smacked a shot against the post with Rose making a fine instinctive stop from Tolaj's rebound effort.

Rose then turned over a long range effort from Tolaj, but the striker wasn't to be denied and midway through the half he collected a pass on the left of the penalty area and whipped a shot across Rose inside the far post, and Rose had to make another good save when he tipped over a Barham header that was dipping under the crossbar. It wasn't all one way traffic, though, with Kashket dragging a shot just wide immediately after Aldershot's goal, and then denied by goalkeeper Jordi van Stappershoef from an acrobatic close range volley(above).

Barham continued to have chances after the break, screwing a shot wide from Tolaj's pass and then shooting high over the bar after cutting in from the left, but again there were chances at the other end, with Harry Smith heading just wide of the far post as Kashket tried to reach the ball. Multiple substitutions on both sides, with Craig Clay seeing shots blocked, but U's were unable to fashion the clear chance that would have produced an equaliser as Aldershot held on for the win.

Sutton: J Rose, J Kizzi (sub O Khinda 77), R Milsom, O Sowunmi (sub C N'Guessan 62), J Taylor, C Eastmond, (sub C Dundas 72), J Coley (sub H Kasimu 77), S Kashket (sub T Fadahunsi 62) H Smith(sub L Angol 77), H Beautyman, O Patrick(sub C Clay 62)

Match Reports