Two goals in each half saw Sutton fall to a 4-0 defeat away at Forest Green Rovers.
The Green took an early lead when some good work down the right flank from Tre Pemberton and Nick Haughton led to the opening goal after just five minutes, with the latter twisting inside and out before being tripped by the returning Eduino Vaz, and allowed Kyle McAllister to open the scoring from the penalty spot.
The hosts then doubled their advantage 20 minutes later when a corner bounced around the box before being headed in off the post by Jordan Taylor-Moore, and gave the U’s a mountain time to climb heading into the second half.
Despite a half time switch by Steve Morison, with Kane Crichlow replacing David Ogbonna, Robbie Savage’s side continued to dominate after the restart, with Harry Whitwell making it three when he slotted past Jack Sims with 20 minutes to go, and they added a fourth minutes later through McAllister’s second of the evening, turning home a Yahya Buyabu cross to condemn the U’s to a disappointing defeat on the road.
Defeat in Nailsworth sees Morison’s side unable to notch his first win of the 2025/26 Enterprise National League season, and will be looking to bounce back on Saturday with the visit of newly promoted Scunthorpe United.
Two changes to the starting line-up saw Alex Woodyard and Liam Vincent both drop out of the squad, with Jack Wadham and Vaz both coming in for their first league starts of the season, while Ogbonna and Jack Taylor both returning to the XI in place of Crichlow and Harry Phipps.
Despite a performance worthy of three points last time out against Solihull Moors, Sutton were put under the cosh immediately at The New Lawn and fell behind with less than five minutes on the clock.
Pemberton worked space on the right flank to pick out Haughton who went on a weaving run into the penalty area, and brought a mistimed challenge from Vaz to win a penalty. McAllister took on the spot-kick responsibilities, finding the bottom corner with a low effort to break the deadlock early on.
With momentum swinging in the Green’s favour, the next sight of goal would once again fall to the hosts as Jayden Clarke’s cross from the left was flicked on by Kairo Mitchell towards McAllister at the back post, who fizzed an acrobatic volley over the crossbar.
This preceded the first real opening for the visitors though, with Jayden Harris and Ashley Nadesan combining to send ball through to Vaz, who laid it back to Nadesan who saw his cross held by Luke McNicholas.
The U’s then came close again through Lewis Simper, who raced forward before spreading the ball out to Aaron Jones on the right flank, who returned the favour and sent a cross ack towards Simper at the near post, who sent an acrobatic overhead kick straight at McNicholas.
Forest Green once again took control of proceedings though, and almost notched a second when Pemberton’s cross from the right was met by Mitchell, who diverted his effort over the top.
Simper then went in the book for a cynical challenge on McAllister on the edge of the box, with the Forest Green midfielder dusting himself off to fire his free kick towards the bottom corner, with Sims able to push his effort onto the post and away.
However, the resulting set piece led to Rovers’ second, as the corner was kept alive and eventually fell to Taylor-Moore, who headed beyond Sims to double the advantage.
A tense affair led to the game’s next caution going the way of the Sutton technical area as Steve Morison was shown a yellow for dissent, and was followed by a late opportunity for the hosts when McAllister whipped a curling shot towards the bottom corner, forcing Sims into a tremendous outstretched save, and meant the U’s went into the break two goals behind.
In search of a route back into the game, Morison opted for a switch in attack as Crichlow replaced Ogbonna, and the U’s almost halved the deficit immediately when Harris saw a shot cleared off the line, shortly before Vaz blasted an effort over the crossbar following a corner.
This would be the last contribution from either player though, as Vaz was forced to go off and was replaced by Junior Eccleston while Harris was replaced by Brandon Njoku, either side of another chance for the hosts, with Sims having to be at his best to tip a McAllister strike onto the woodwork, with Mitchell heading the rebound wide.
Sutton responded with Crichlow trying his luck from distance, but his efforts were in vain as Forest Green scored a third goal when McAllister found Whitwell inside the area, who held off a challenge and slotted home past Sims with 20 minutes to go.
And it was soon four moments later, with Buyabu getting to the byline before sending a low cross towards McAllister, who guided the ball into the bottom corner to extend Forest Green’s lead, and close off a disappointing evening in Gloucestershire for the U’s.
Forest Green Rovers: McNicholas; Kengni (Knowles 76’), Mendy, McAllister, Haughton (Whitwell 60’), Clarke (Buyabu 60’), Moore-Taylor, Moore (Bamba 76’), Pemberton, Mitchell (Doidge 71’), Kanu
Sutton United: Sims; Simper (Odelusi 80’), Nadesan (White 80’), Vaz (Eccleston 59’), Pruti, Tizzard, Taylor, Jones, Ogbonna (Crichlow 46’), Wadham, Harris (Njoku 63’)
Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin
