Sutton’s super subs were at the centre of a comfortable 4-0 win over Oxford City, and leaves the National League Academy South title firmly in the U’s hands.
Glen Nichols’ side have had a habit of both creating early chances and scoring early goals at the start of a game, and it was another rapid start at Oxford, with Bobby Sheargold setting the scene inside the first three minutes.
The Hoops were then reduced to ten men inside the first 20 minutes after their goalkeeper Max Treml took out Noah Nzuzi on the edge of the box, requiring an outfield player to step outside of their comfort zone with Treml the only goalkeeper in the Hoops’ squad.
However, the U’s were left frustrated by their opponents and were unable to add to their lead despite having an extra player on the pitch, leading to Nichols making a triple change at half time. Mehmet Halim was one of the players brought into the action and provided an instant impact when he fired in a second two minutes after play had resumed, before Jayden Keteku added a third and fourth from close range.
Dartford, who had kicked off 15 minutes before their title rivals, put seven past Aldershot Town and saw the Darts command a narrow lead at the summit, sitting a point clear of the U’s at the top of the league and with a superior goal difference due to the magnitude of the scoreline, though Sutton still having two games in hand, and will be aiming to extend their positive form with a trip to Southend United on Monday, 11th May (2:15pm KO).
Sutton made four changes from their winning end to the EFL Youth Alliance campaign against Stevenage last Saturday, as Rashaad Drysdale and Kai McKenzie were brought back into the Starting XI. In addition, fresh off winning three awards at Burgess Hill Town’s End of Season ceremony, George Vorster was named on the bench alongside Halim and Liam Moore, who would make his return from injury later in the afternoon. One noticeable absentee was Derrell Ashia, who had picked up a back injury against Stevenage last weekend; Nichols stating that it doesn’t look too serious and he should be back in contention for next week.
Before Sutton struck, Oxford had the first chance of what turned out to be a busy opening three minutes, as a free kick delivery found a player at the back post, whose header was straight at Klevis Muca.
Sutton responded well though and went up the other end immediately, with Drysdale seeing a shot on the right side of the penalty area saved low by Treml down to his right-hand side. Nichols was pleased that his side showed purpose when they retrieved the ball, and this was displayed by Sheargold after he swept up a poor outfield pass by an Oxford player, dribbling towards the edge of the box before cutting inside and firing it into the bottom left corner.
Sheargold was then involved again six minutes later, as after beating his man on the near side and dribbling into the penalty area, he was brought down in the box, though no penalty was given. Sutton maintained their momentum despite this, with Drysdale going close after an impressive solo run into the penalty area, with his low effort flying inches past the left post.
A major turning point in the game then followed as seconds after Nichols had shouted at Nzuzi to “liven up” from the sidelines, the midfielder took note as he toe poked the ball from behind the defender, before taking it around Treml who brought him down on the edge of the box, and was given a straight red card. Ronny Ruiz took the resulting free kick, firing his low effort straight at the wall.
Sutton’s final clear-cut chance of the half saw Nzuzi slide a perfectly weighted through ball to Keteku, before the midfielder unselfishly attempted to tee up McKenzie on the edge of the box, though an Oxford defender was alert to clear the danger and maintain a narrow deficit heading into the interval.
Nichols subsequently opted to make changes at the break which saw Vorster, Halim and Omotolani Bello all introduced, with the trio having a significant impact during the second half. It was Halim who made the first notable contribution within two minutes, as a low ball from Sheargold on the right side of the penalty box found the former Leatherhead loanee centrally, who calmy guided his shot into the bottom far corner.
The substitutes were then involved again three minutes later, as a low cross from Bello had Halim looking to pounce within the six-yard box however, the goalkeeper was able to collect it.
Vorster then thought he had added a third when nine minutes into the second half, another of the substitutes had the ball in the back of the net, with Nichols’ decision at the break continuing to prove a masterstroke. This time it was the former Burgess Hill man who was played into the box centrally by Sheargold, before the forward took the ball around the goalkeeper and finished it calmy. However, the goal was chalked off after the offside flag was raised.
The Hoops struggled to create chances throughout the game, with Nichols stating that his side had better control within the second half. However, the Hoops created one good chance as a free kick that was aimed towards the back post was headed across the six-yard box with the header deflecting over the bar, before Sheargold nearly extended the lead at the other end moments before he was taken off, as after beating his man on the far side, his low strike was saved inside the penalty area.
A third would soon be on its way though, and with just over 15 minutes to go a low cross by Callum Lee was spilled by the goalkeeper, allowing Keteku to pounce and score the rebound from close range.
Nichols had hoped that Keteku would find his form again after it was interrupted when he picked up an injury in the win against Woking, and the midfielder certainly did that with a key role in the U’s soon completing what turned out to be a straightforward afternoon. Indeed, he added gloss to the scoreline with a fourth goal in stoppage time when a cross from Bello was controlled by Keteku at the back post, before directing it into the bottom left corner for his second of the half, and his third goal in two games.
Sutton: K Muca, C Lee, D Urpens( Sub L Moore 87), A Reeves, G Katana, N Nzuzi( Sub O Bello H-T), R Ruiz, R Drysdale( Sub G Vorster H-T), J Keteku, B Sheargold( Sub J Obarotimi 78), K Mckenzie( Sub M Halim H-T).
Sutton are next in action on Monday, 11th May (2:15pm KO) as they take a trip down to Roots Hall, taking on a Southend side who the U’s have already beaten twice this season both in the quarter finals of the National League Cup, as well as beating them 2-0 in the league at Leatherhead Youth Club in March.
The Under-19s were also in action yesterday, as they ended their league campaign in style putting eight past Hertford at Cheam Sports Club.
Report: Finlay Harris
