Kane Crichlow’s late winner was enough to secure victory in Sutton United’s first match of 2025/26, kicking off pre-season with a narrow win against League One Play-Off Semi-Finalists Wycombe Wanderers.

After a goalless first half, which saw the Chairboys go closest through Armando Junior Quitirna, Crichlow produced some superb moments on his first Sutton appearance, with a couple of long-range efforts that tested Mikki Van Sass along with being the architect of a wonderful move that saw him combine with fellow debutant David Ogbonna to tee up a chance for Dillon De Silva.

Ogbonna and Crichlow then combined once again for the winner, with the former jinking inside and out before sending a low ball into the feet of Crichlow who, after making space to shoot, slid the ball past Van Sass to secure the victory with three minutes to go.

Five summer signings were included in the starting XI with Aaron Jones, Harry Phipps, Liam Vincent and Jaiden White turning out for the first time at Gander Green Lane, while Ashley Nadesan led the line with a new number ten shirt after making his loan move from Gillingham permanent. There was a place in the team for academy product Adam Reeves, with Charlie Bell and Dan Urpens among the substitutes.

Sutton came closest to drawing first blood when new signings White and Jones combined on the right flank, the latter driving towards the edge of the box before unleashing a low effort which cannoned off a Wycombe defender and into the path of Jones, who struck just wide of the far post.

Chances proved to be few and far between during the first half, with the visitors going close 15 minutes later after Alex Woodyard was penalised for a late challenge on Junior Quitirna on the edge of the box, who dusted himself off before firing the free kick well over the crossbar.

This preceded another opening for the hosts, who broke quickly through Nadesan and set Jayden Harris away, who tried his luck from the edge of the box and saw his effort deflect out for a corner off Jack Grimmer.

The resulting delivery was cleared by Wycombe as far as Simper, who attempted a first-time volley with his weak foot that comfortably cleared the crossbar.

As the clock ticked towards half time, Junior Quirtina once again proved the danger man for the Chairboys, bending a hopeful effort that flew wide of the target on the stroke of the interval, shortly before Alex Kirk headed a deep cross towards the back post where Phipps was unable to squeeze the ball over the line.

With the score goalless at the break, Steve Morison introduced wholesale changes for the second half, with a whole new XI getting the chance to receive some crucial minutes, including more new signings in David Aziaya, Edon Pruti, Will Tizzard, Crichlow and Ogbonna.

Crichlow almost had an instant impact when he met Junior Eccleston’s cross with a superb first-time volley that gave Shamal George no chance, but the flag was up for offside on Eccleston.

This was followed by a chance for last season’s League One Player of the Season Richard Kone, who saw a low shot deflected off Jack Taylor, who went close at the other end minutes later after guiding Eduino Vaz’s deep free kick wide of the target.

Crichlow and Ogbonna then combined to produce an outstanding move that was deserving of a goal, with the Bermuda international jinking past Ewan Henderson before linking up with the former Hertford Town man with a couple of neat one-twos. This gave Ogbonna space to send a low cross into the path of Dillon De Silva, who saw his shot deflected away, moments before Ogbonna fired over with a curling effort of his own.

Crichlow then once again showed his quality when he unleashed a powerful effort from distance that took a nick off Vaz, and flew into the gloves of Van Sass, shortly before Eccleston drove forward and picked out Ogbonna who again went close to an opener, seeing his low shot blocked from point blank range.

The momentum continued to swing in the U’s favour after the introductions of Crichlow and Ogbonna, with the former once again stinging the gloves of George with a powerful drive from long range, with the Wycombe goalkeeper producing a superb stop before recovering well with Eccleston ready to pounce on the rebound.

It was only going to be one man who would get the winner though, with Crichlow putting the cherry on top of an outstanding performance when he got on the end of Ogbonna’s cut-back, before sliding the ball past George to give Sutton a perfect start to pre-season.

Sutton United (First Half): Sims; Jones, Kirk, Phipps, Reeves, Vincent, Woodyard, Simper, White, Harris, Nadesan

Sutton United (Second Half): Aziaya; Pruti, Tizzard, Pruti; Eccleston, Odelusi, Wadham, Vaz; Crichlow, De Silva; Ogbonna

Wycombe Wanderers (First Half): Vaz Sass; Grimmer, Hartridge, Allen, Junior Quitirna, Boyd-Munce, Udoh, Mullins, Matton, Westergaard, Onyedinma

Wycombe Wanderers (Second Half): George; Leahy, Tilley, Casey, Berry, Henderson, Back, Kone, Gregory, Hagelskjaer, Lowry

Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin