Sutton followed up Tuesday’s defeat of Wycombe with more success over League One opposition, goals at the beginning and the end of the game enough to claim a deserved victory over AFC Wimbledon. After Ashley Nadesan’s fine header had given U’s the lead in the first five minutes, the starting line-up preserved the advantage with few alarms while they were on the pitch for the first hour, but goalkeeper David Aziaya, one of eleven changes then made by U’s, needed to make two good stops before Siju Odelusi’s penalty confirmed the victory.

Having scored late to beat Wycombe, U’s struck early in this game as Dillon De Silva’s chip from the right edge of the penalty area was met by Ashley Nadesan, whose fine looping header drifted over Joe McDonnell in to the top far corner of the net. Sutton continued to impress going forward, De Silva a lively threat to the Dons’ defence, but were unable to add to the lead as Wimbledon cleared from inside their penalty area on several occasions. At the other end Jack Sims was relatively untroubled, and when Marcus browne did lay the ball back for Jake Reeves, his shot from outside the penalty area comfortably cleared the crossbar.

Reeves was involved again early in the second half, hauling down David Ogbonna on the edge of the penalty area and perhaps grateful that referee Adam Merchant showed leniency in a pre-season friendly and produced a yellow card, but U’s were unable to profit as Lewis Simper’s free kick failed to beat the defensive wall. There was another opening when Nadesan met a pull back from Eduino Vaz with a shot that was deflected wide for a corner, but soon after it was all change for U’s, with Siju Odelusi’s first involvement earning him a yellow card for blocking a free kick.

It was Aziaya who was the busiest of the new arrivals, though, making a fine save to deny Browne after former Sutton favourites Omar Bugiel and Ali Smith had combined to set up the chance. After Wimbledon had made their changes, Aziaya was called in to action again to make a good reflex save from Delano McCoy-Splatt, but the Dons were unable to find a leveller and with the game entering its last minute Junior Eccleston ran on to a fine pass from Kane Crichlow and was sent tumbling by Junior Nkeng’s challenge. The referee pointed immediately to the penalty spot, and Odelusi showed that he had paid little attention to some other penalties taken in the last couple of days with a confident conversion to McDonnell’s left.

Sutton (to 64th minute):  J Sims, A Jones, E Vaz, W Tizzard, H Phipps, E Pruti, D Ogbonna, L Simper, J Wadham, A Nadesan, D De Silva.

From 64th minute: D Aziaya, J Eccleston, L Vincent, A Kirk, J Taylor, A Reeves, A Woodyard, J White, J Harris, K Crichlow, S Odelusi.

Wimbledon: J McDonnell, S Seddon(sub C Maycock 76), J Reeves(sub J Kelly 76), S Hutchinson(sub D McCoy-Splatt 76), R Johnson(sub O Foyo 76), M Browne(sub R Horan 76), A Smith(sub L Young 76), M Stevens(sub O Bugiel 64), R Harbottle(sub I Ogundere 64), A Sasu(sub Triallist 64), M Hippolyte(sub J Nkeng 76)

Referee: Adam Merchant

Attendance: 1,137(435 away)

Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin