Sutton United 3 (Smith 16, Sowunmi 68, Adom-Malaki 74) Accrington Stanley 1(Bickerstaff 85)
Sutton recorded back to back Sky Bet League Two wins for the first time this season and moved off the bottom of the table with a convincing win over Accrington Stanley. It was the first time U's home supporters had seen a league success since the end of October, and there were nervous moments along the way but once Omar Sowunmi had given U's a two goal cushion midway through the second half the afternoon was topped off as Nino Adom-Malaki put himself firmly in to any goal of the season conversations six minutes later, a late header from Accrington substitute Jake Bickerstaff no more than an annoyance for a U's side that moved above Forest Green on goal difference and within a point of Colchester.
The initial signs weren't hugely encouraging for U's, who wore a special Royal Aubergine kit to mark the club's link up with the Royal Marsden Cancer Charity, with a slow start almost punished twice, firstly when a cross shot from Dan Martin evaded both the far post and the sliding Josh Woods, and then when Woods was sent clear through the middle but saw Steve Arnold off his line quickly to save. After surviving that start, Sutton then went in front when Charlie Lakin's through pass held up in the wind and forced a misjudgment from Accrington goalkeeper Jack McIntyre, who came outside his area to clear but was beaten to the ball by Harry Smith, who then made a testing finish from an angle with his left foot look easy.
Sutton were again grateful to Arnold for a superb close range stop to deny Joe Pritchard, the ball looping against the post and rebounding in to Arnold's arms, while at the other end Olly Sanderson sent a glancing header from Josh Coley's cross just too high, and then saw a shot saved by McIntyre after Smith's neat flick had put him through.
Accrington made two changes at half time but with Sutton now having the wind behind them the visitors found it difficult to make any impression on U's defence and it became a question of whether Sutton could find the greater security of a second goal. McIntyre stood in U's way, though, acrobatically turning away a fierce Sanderson volley and then saving from Smith and Coley, both of whom might have done better although Coley looked to be held back as he tried to force his shot past the keeper. When the goal did eventually come it was a scruffy affair, Lakin's inswinging corner possibly on the way in on its own merits before Sowunmi's head made sure from almost on the goalline, the first time since Steve Morison took over as manager that U's had held a two goal lead in a game. If that was scrappy, the third goal six minutes later was one of the outstanding moments on the ground this season, Lakin completing a hat trick of assists with a pass down the left after U's had cleared a free kick, and Adom-Malaki connecting with a stunning volley which flew in to the top far corner of the net.
That put the game beyond Accrington, and although Bickerstaff denied U's a second successive clean sheet with a near post header from Korede Adedoyin's cross it was only a slight dampener on the afternoon which ended with more good news for U's as Vinnie Tume, so impressive for the academy side this season and with two goals against Horley in the Surrey Senior Cup, came on for a brief League Two debut in stoppage time.
Sutton: S Arnold, R Jackson, N Adom-Malaki, O Sowunmi, J Kizzi, S Hart, J Coley (sub O Patrick 82), O Sanderson(sub C N'Guessan 83, H Smith (sub V Tume 90+2), H Beautyman, C Lakin. Subs n/u M Kerbey, L John, C Eastmond, J Taylor. Booked: Smith
Accrington: J McIntyre, C O'Brien, J Gubbins, K Mellor, B Hills, J Nolan (sub J Bickerstaff 82), S Whalley, D Martin(sub B Woods 82), J Woods (sub K Adedoyin H-T), J Pritchard(sub A Henderson H-T), T Leigh. Subs n/u T Savin, L Shipley, S Conneely. Booked: Adedoyin.
Referee: Tom Nield
Attendance: 3,265 (199 away).
