Having spent a large part of the afternoon at the foot of the live National League table as the goals went in at Truro, Sutton were prevented from finishing the afternoon bottom of the table when David Ogbonna came off the substitutes’ bench to grab an equaliser in the third minute of stoppage time and deny Boston the points that looked likely to head back to Lincolnshire. The visitors might even have gone home with nothing, but were indebted to goalkeeper Rhys Lovett for a magnificent save to keep out a volley from Jack Taylor three minutes after Ogbonna’s equaliser.
Until then it had looked to be another frustrating afternoon for Sutton, who went behind just after the half hour mark to a fine Matty Hudson free kick, and having missed a golden chance to level before the break when Brandon Njoku headed against a post, had struggled to get the ball in to areas where they could hurt Boston.
Njoku started alongside Ashley Nadesan in U’s line-up, with Noa Boutin in the left wing back position and Jayden Harris and Will Tizzard both restored to the starting line-up, but there was little threat to either goal in the first half hour despite some bright early moves for Sutton which had no end product. Then Charlie Bell was penalised for a foul just outside the penalty area, although the yellow card that Bell could have been shown was instead received by Boston’s Dylan Hill for his reaction, but Boston took full advantage as Carson’s free kick around the outside of the wall found the net past a motionless Jack Sims.
Sutton almost replied immediately, Harris firing in a powerful volley which was well saved by Lovett, with Njoku just unable to reach the rebound, but should have levelled just before half time when Boutin and Edon Pruti combined on the left and Pruti’s cross was met by an unmarked Njoku, who hit the post with his header from close range.
For much of the second half Sutton had a lot of the ball but were unable to create clear chances, Njoku and substitute Dillon De Silva both trying their luck from outside the penalty area but well off target. Another replacement, Siju Odelusi, miscued a shot when well placed just inside the penalty area, and U’s fortunes were summed up as De Silva twice slipped when trying to cross from the left, Aaron Jones was twice penalised for foul throws, his protests at the first earning one of five Sutton bookings, and a wayward Pruti backpass gifted Boston a corner. However the introduction of Ogbonna in the 89th minute gave U’s renewed energy, and he had already created two moments of promise before sending in another cross from the right which deflected off Jordy Hiwula and looped over Lovett.
With the crowd behind them U’s pushed for the second goal that would turn the game round, and when Taylor connected with a volley just inside the penalty area following a corner it seemed as though they might have it, but Lovett produced an outstanding effort to turn the shot away low to his left and Boston were able to preserve their point.
Sutton: J Sims, A Jones, N Boutin(sub D De Silva 62), W Tizzard, J Taylor, E Pruti(sub D Ogbonna 89), J Harris(sub S Odelusi 62), L Simper, B Njoku, A Nadesan, C Bell(sub M Dabre 79). Subs n/u L Vincent, J Eccleston, D Aziaya. Booked: Simper, Harris, Jones, Bell, Sims.
Boston: R Lovett, J Cropper, M Carson(sub B Grist 80), C Teale, Z Mills, G Sloggett, R Coyle(sub A Lankshear 55), D Hill, L John-Lewis(sub J Hiwula 55), J Richards, K Donnelly(sub O Hampson 72). Subs n/u T Fogarty, M Norkett, B Jones. Booked: Hill, Coyle, Hampson, Cropper.
Referee: Richie Watkins
Attendance: 2,049(155 away)
