Sutton’s pre-season programme ended on a positive note at The Beveree, U’s putting Tuesday’s heavy defeat against Millwall behind them with a convincing victory over National League South Hampton & Richmond. After a slow start, U’s went ahead for the second Saturday in a row through an own goal, and proceeded to dominate long periods of the game, Jaiden White, Jack Wadham and Dillon De Silva all found the net for the first time this season before Brandon Njoku rounded off a highly promising first 45 minutes in Sutton colours with the fifth goal six minutes from time.

The early stages of the game were played in the Sutton half, but David Aziaya, playing the full 90 minutes, was untroubled and U’s began to threaten with Ashley Nadesan just failing to reach a low cross from the right before De Silva’s low cross from the left was turned in at the far post by former Sutton defender Jude Mason as he tried to prevent the cross reaching Aaron Jones.

Edon Pruti’s threat at set pieces was again evident as he headed just wide from a White free kick, but around the half hour mark U’s took firm control with two goals in the space of a minute. White struck with a superb dipping 25 yard shot after a neat exchange following an Eduino Vaz throw in, and a minute later U’s pressure caused goalkeeper James Holden to send a clearance straight to Wadham, who returned the ball first time in to the unguarded net.

U’s made three changes at half time, including a first appearance for Njoku, and he was in action immediately, troubling the defence with his pace and Vaz almost profiting as he sent a twenty yard shot just wide. The same player went close again from similar distance, just missing the far post, while Junior Eccleston headed wide from a White free kick.

There was a blemish on an otherwise satisfactory afternoon when a defensive slip allowed Ronan Silva a chance which went high over the bar, and then Wadham’s misplaced pass was seized on by substitute Harry Gardner, although the Hampton player’s long range finish over Aziaya was a fine effort.

U’s regained control in the last quarter of an hour,though, and when Aziaya sent a long clearance downfield White seized on a loose ball, burst through the middle, and set up De Silva, who neatly stepped inside a defender and shot past Holden. Six minutes from time Hampton failed to deal with Liam Vincent’s long throw, and although Holden took most of the power off Wadham’s close range shot Njoku, who had previously twice gone close with headers, forced the ball in to complete an entertaining victory.

Sutton: D Aziaya, A Jones (sub D Ogbonna H-T), W Tizzard(sub J Eccleston H-T), E Pruti(sub L Vincent 66), J Taylor, S Odelusi, J White, J Wadham, E Vaz, A Nadesan(sub B Njoku H-T), D De Silva.

Hampton: J Holden, E Allsopp(sub S Flaherty 66), S Deadfield (sub O Turner 66), C Fasanmade(sub H Gardner 56), P Field, J Mason, A Massey (sub Triallist B 61), B Parkinson, R Silva(sub I Jallow 73), H Thomas, Triallist A.

Referee: Adam Merchant

Attendance: 524

Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin