Brighton recorded a second win in this season’s National League Cup, and Sutton suffered a second defeat, as a late revival from U’s after going 2-0 down with just over quarter of an hour to go failed to produce more than Ashley Nadesan’s goal with three minutes to go. Despite putting the visitors under pressure in the remaining three minutes, and the six minutes of stoppage time that followed, U’s couldn’t find the equaliser and with a goal difference suffering as a result of the heavy defeat by Fulham now seem to have lost any chance of progressing to the knock out stages.
There were starting appearances for academy players Adam Reeves, Charlie Bell and Mehmet Halim, while Junior Eccleston captained a team that also saw Will Tizzard return after injury, and in a first half of few clear chances it was Brandon Njoku who went closest for U’s when his deflected shot was saved by goalkeeper Nils Ramming down at his near post. Brighton had much of the possession but David Aziaya found little to directly test him, with Harry Howell twice sending shots too high and Nehemiah Oriola shooting wide early on after cutting in from the right.
U’s made two changes at half time, Tizzard and Siju Odelusi replaced by Jack Wadham and another member of this season’s academy defence Dan Urpens, while on the hour Liam Vincent, Ashley Nadesan and Edon Pruti came on for Njoku, David Ogbonna and Dillon De Silva, but chances were still at a premium at both ends, Josh Robertson going close for Brighton when his shot was blocked by Urpens.
The deadlock was broken in the 66th minute when Robertson’s pass was converted first time by Shane Nti with a first time left foot shot, and when eight minutes later Ben Barclay headed in Howell’s corner Brighton seemed on course for a comfortable victory. Sutton’s heads refused to drop, however, and with three minutes left Pruti’s long pass out from the back carried over Brighton skipper Freddie Simmonds and Nadesan was left clear to hammer a low shot past the advancing Ramming. U’s exerted real pressure in the time that was left, corners from Wadham and long throws from Urpens cleared with difficulty, and Bell seeing one ferocious shot blocked. Brighton held on for the points, though, and realistically ended Sutton’s hopes of progress in the tournament.
Sutton: D Aziaya, J Eccleston, N Boutin, W Tizzard(sub D Urpens H-T), A Reeves, S Odelusi(sub J Wadham H-T), D Ogbonna(sub L Vincent 60), C Bell, M Halim, B Njoku(sub A Nadesan 60), D De Silva(sub E Pruti 60). Subs n/u J Sims, J Fennelow. Booked: Vincent
Brighton: N Ramming, N Oriola(sub C Mackley 85), S Keogh(sub T Silsby 78), B Barclay, F Simmonds, N Atom, Z Albarus, J Robertson, S Nti, H Howell(sub J Belmont 78), J Knight(sub Y Owusu 82). Subs n/u S Jensen, J Middleton, H Kasvosve. Booked: Silsby, Nti.
Referee: Wayne Cartmel
Attendance: 437
