Sutton lacked the finishing touch in front of goal at Roots Hall, falling to a 4-1 defeat to Southend United which puts Dartford in the driving seat for the title.
Rashaad Drysdale put the U’s ahead inside the first 15 minutes after Sutton had created numerous early chances, side footing his effort past Joshua Barrett after Ronny Ruiz and Kai McKenzie combined to send the forward through on goal, but they failed to build on their lead and ended up going into the break behind, with goals from Harrison Lamb and Ronnie Durussel within four minutes of each time cancelling out Drysdale’s opener.
Southend started the second half brightly as they deservedly grabbed their third goal just past the hour-mark through Nikolay Zlatev, and despite Sutton coming close to pulling a goal back, the hosts put the game to bed by adding a fourth inside the final three minutes of normal time; Zlatev sealing his brace to condemn the U’s to a disappointing defeat on the road.
For the first time in months, the title is no longer in Sutton’s hands as they have failed to make the most of their game in hand. Both Sutton and Dartford have two games left of the campaign with the Darts currently a point clear of the U’s, and with Dartford’s final two opponents both placed inside the bottom half of the table, Glen Nichols admitted that Sutton are going to need some luck to still be in with a chance of lifting the title.
The Academy Head of Coaching made only one change from the 4-0 win at Oxford last Wednesday which saw a change at left back, as Luke Ashburn replaced Geri Katana who dropped to the bench. Derell Ashia continues to struggle with a back injury and was deemed not fit enough to be involved, with McKenzie being the only available striker in Essex.
Ruiz had Sutton’s first sight at goal through a dead-ball situation, winning a free kick after cutting inside on the wing, before watching his effort fly wide of the target.
Sutton then went close again a minute later as Bobby Sheargold’s lay-off to Jayden Keteku on the edge of the box saw the midfielder’s shot go inches wide of the top corner, but Sutton amped up the pressure with after a strong run from Noah Nzuzi down the flank, with the former Carshalton Athletic loanee driving goalward before cutting the ball back inside the penalty area, where Keteku again saw an effort go amiss, deflecting past the post.
Nichols had praised Sutton for their good work in possession, and they were rewarded with a goal just minutes later, as a header on the halfway line from Ruiz found McKenzie who released Drysdale in behind, who calmly finished it from inside the box to give the visitors the advantage.
Despite this, Southend responded well and had a brief five-minute spell of chances, seeing both a header from a free kick and a corner caught by Klevis Muca, as well as a shot on the edge of the box going over his goal.
Sutton then had the ball in the net for a second time after Ruiz converted a rebound from close range only to be denied by the offside flag, before Drysdale went close to grabbing his second just before the half-hour mark, cutting inside before shaping up for a curling effort into the bottom far corner, though he but was denied by Barrett.
Nichols did say after the game that there have been too many games this season where Sutton have not been clinical enough within the final third, and this was shown again with multiple chances that they were unable to convert, opening the door for Southend to punish the visitors.
Indeed, the Shrimpers found their equaliser after half-an-hour when a corner was cleared to the edge of the box where Lamb was waiting to twist and turn before drilling home a shot off the post.
Southend nearly completed a quickfire comeback three minutes later, with Muca needing to be alert to make a good save with his feet, but this proved to just foreshadow the inevitable, as Southend displayed superior composure to go ahead moments later, with Durussel heading home a free kick at the back post.
Proceedings almost went from bad to worse for the U’s when the Shrimpers screamed for a penalty on the stroke of half time after a through ball was taken around Muca by Zlatev, causing the forward to go to ground under a challenge from the Kosovan goalkeeper. However, Sutton breathed a sigh of relief as the referee gave the decision in the U’s favour and issued a yellow card, believing the Bulgarian went to ground too easily.
Despite Nichols having the half time break to speak to his players, it was Southend who still looked the most likely to score as less than a minute after play had resumed, Muca came to Sutton’s rescue once again to deny Joe Poxon.
Seven minutes later, the Shrimpers then went close again as a low cross from the left flank was leaped onto by an oncoming attacker who shattered his effort against the post, with Southend firmly controlling the opening of the second period.
Keteku, who has been in great form since his return from injury, scoring three in his last two games, was the next to dodge the target, as a cross from Callum Lee was not met cleanly by the attacker which made it easier for the goalkeeper to claim the shot, and he was made to pay for this miss, as just past the hour-mark, Southend tightened their grip on all three points as Lamb’s delivery into the box was converted at the back post by Zlatev.
In search of a response, Sutton had another wave of chances which they failed to make the most of, with Ruiz sneaking the ball in behind to Drysdale who attempted to take the ball around Barrett, who he was able to get a touch on the ball to narrow the shooting angle for the winger.
Substitutes George Vorster and Jayden Obarotimi then combined soon after to tee up Jayden Obarotimi, whose shot on the edge of the box land directly at Barrett, before Vorster again looked to be the provider as he set up Omotolani Bello with a fine delivery from inside the box, which was missed completely by an isolated Bello at the back post.
However, Sutton were further castigated for not taking their chances as Southend nailed in their fourth three minutes from stoppage time, with Durussel swinging in an outstanding cross into the near post where Zlatev produced a stunning side footed volley to hook home his 28th youth team goal of the season.
Nichols’ side then suffered a nightmare in stoppage time as Dan Urpens was cautioned for a late challenge which was swiftly made worse. After engaging in conflict with the referee surrounding the decision, he was given a second yellow card in a matter of seconds to conclude the action with ten men, and leave the title race firmly in Dartford’s hands.
Sutton: K Muca, C Lee( Sub B San-Norton 51), D Urpens, A Reeves, L Ashburn( Sub G Katana 82), N Nzuzi( Sub J Obarotimi 67), R Ruiz, R Drysdale, J Keteku, B Sheargold( Sub O Bello 51), K Mckenzie( Sub G Vorster 51).
The result will taste sweet for Southend after Sutton had dumped them out of the National League with the same scoreline back in February. Sutton are next in action on Friday, 15th May (KO/Location TBC) as they travel to Maidenhead United to try and keep their hopes of winning the title alive.
Before this, Dartford are in action as they travel to Dorking Wanderers, with an opportunity to extend their gap at the top of the table.
