Sutton came back from conceding two goals in the first fifteen minutes to take a valuable point in an eventful game that ended with both teams reduced to ten men. Aldershot went in front in the fifth minute when Callum Stewart scrambled the ball in after U’s had failed to clear a free kick, and Ryan Hill doubled the lead from the penalty spot after Junior Eccleston had underhit a back pass and then fouled Cameron Hargreaves as he tried to recover his error.
Lewis Simper pulled a goal back four minutes later when he forced the ball in from a Jayden Harris cross and Brandon Njoku should have scored in the first minute of the second half but saw his shot saved, but U’s were level when David Ogbonna was put through by Toby Byron and fouled by Olly Scott, who received his second yellow card before Simper converted the penalty.
Charlie Bell also received a second yellow card before the end, leading to a league debut for academy product Ronny Ruiz, while Aldershot came close to a winner when Charlie Warren hit the post from close range and Josh Barrett’s corner was cleared off the line.
Full detailed report to follow.
Sutton: J Sims, K Donkor, B Topallaj, J Eccleston, E Pruti, J Taylor, C Bell, L Simper, B Njoku(sub D Rodari 90+2), J Harris(sub T Byron 61), D Ogbonna(sub R Ruiz 87). Subs n/u D Urpens, D Eze, D Cashman. Booked: Topallaj, Eccleston, Bell, Taylor. Sent Off: Bell
Aldershot: C Boyce-Clark, R Sheckleford(sub T Widdrington 59), O Scott, W Nightingale, C Grogan, R Hill, C Hargreaves, J Henry(sub D Tetek H-T)(sub J Barrett 90), C Stewart(sub K Thomas 90), C Warren, B Peart(sub S Inwood 77). Subs n/u H Ghandour, P Nash. Booked: Scott, Hill. Sent Off: Scott
Referee: Rob Massey-Ellis
Attendance: 3,034(438 away)
