Sutton's women's team went down to a narrow and slightly unfortunate defeat in their last home game of the season as a strong second half performance just failed to recover a two goal half time deficit, but U's are still likely to match last season's finishing position of eighth in the London & South East Regional League Premier Division.
Sutton started brightly with Abbie Measures seeing a shot deflected and loop just wide, but she was then involved in the first goal as she was harshly adjudged to have tripped a Dorking player as they contested a ball on the by line, and Sarah Sparrow converted the resulting penalty. Although having plenty of the ball U's were often let down by a stray pass in the first half, and gifted Dorking a second goal eight minutes before half time when Zoe McNulty's clearance was intercepted by former Sutton striker Olivia Watson, who advanced before shooting low in to the net.
Sutton dominated long spells of the second half, and Jaz Backhurst almost pulled a goal back when she beat goalkeeper Tea Oldroyd to a throgh ball but was unable to convert from a narrow angle, but after U's made a quadruple substitution the deficit was reduced with a fine goal as two of the replacements combined, Toni-Anne Bussey breaking down the right and playing a perfect pass across to Caitlin Savage, who controlled the ball before shooting past Oldroyd (above). Despite the late pressure U's were unable to find an equaliser, coming closest in stoppage time when Backhurst swung in a free kick from the right that was scrambled away from inside the six yard box.
Sutton: Z McNulty, S Modak, E Meehan, J Buckmire, H Talbut-Smith, A Measures, H Thomas, J Backhurst, L Malcolm, A Cutler, E Clark. Subs C Savage, M South, T-A Bussey, E Spear, M Creaser.
Attendance: 85
Our one remaining game is away to Saltdean on Sunday 12 May, but we will finish eighth unless Enfield take seven points from their three remaining games or Ashford win their last game away to Ebbsfleet.
