Scunthorpe maintained their 100% record in the Enterprise National League, and left Sutton still looking for their first win, after edging a see-saw game in which they led early on but failed to capitalise on their good start and saw Sutton come back to lead 2-1 before two goals in six minutes from Ollie Rose and Danny Whitehall turned the game back in the visitors’ favour, and they held out against strong Sutton pressure late on, U’s playing the last eighteen minutes with ten men after Liam Vincent’s red card for a challenge on midfielder Joe Rowley.
The visitors dominated the first half hour, and although they were grateful to experienced centre back Will Evans for a fine block to deny Brandon Njoku after a quick Aaron Jones free kick, they deserved their 13th minute lead when Oliver Ewing wriggled free on the left of the penalty area and crossed for Declan Howe to turn home, Vincent’s attempt to clear only sending the ball in to the roof of the net. Ewing almost added a second with a curling shot which went just wide of Jack Sims’ left hand post, and Scunthorpe seemed well on top, pressing U’s as they tried to play out from the back. Eleven minutes before half time, though, after a long Sims clearance had seen Njoku win a throw-in that led to a corner, Sutton were level as Jones’ flag kick was fumbled by goalkeeper Maison Campbell, possibly impeded by one of his own players, and Jack Taylor headed in from close range.
Boosted by the equaliser, Sutton came out strongly at the start of the second half and a strong run by Harry Phipps and a neat touch by David Ogbonna gave Vincent the chance to whip in a cross from the left that was met by Njoku’s powerful header to put U’s in front. It was a short lived lead, as Scunthorpe substitute Ollie Rose swept a low shot past Sims after being set up by Callum Roberts, a constant threat to U’s despite picking up a yellow card after only two minutes for what referee Andrew Humphries saw as a dive in the Sutton penalty area.
Six minutes later Scunthorpe were back in front as Evans met Roberts’ free kick beyond the far post with a header that was kept out by Sims but scrambled over the line by Danny Whitehall. After going in front, however, it was Scunthorpe’s defence that came to the fore as Sutton pushed for an equaliser. Campbell saved from Njoku after the striker had created space on the edge of the penalty area, and Lewis Simper saw a shot flash just too high after cutting in from the right before Evans again produced a well timed challenge to deny Njoku.
Sutton’s efforts were hampered when Vincent was sent off for his challenge on Rowley, but they kept pressing as Campbell dived to push away Siju Odelusi’s shot and Tyler Denton diverted Njoku’s effort from the rebound wide. The persevering Njoku curled another shot just wide, but the equaliser wouldn’t come and Scunthorpe celebrated their third win out of three in the National League.
Sutton: J Sims, A Jones (sub J Eccleston 74), L Vincent, J Taylor, H Phipps, E Pruti, D Ogbonna(sub A Nadesan 57), L Simper, B Njoku, J Harris(sub J Wadham 57), S Odelusi. Subs n/u D Aziaya, J White, D De Silva, M Dabre. Booked: Phipps. Sent Off: Vincent.
Scunthorpe: M Campbell, J Starbuck, T Denton, O Ewing, W Evans, A Boyce, D Howe(sub C Ubaezuonu 76), A Beestin(sub K Scales 32) (sub O Rose 48), D Whitehall, C Roberts, J Rowley(sub B Chadwick 76). Subs n/u R Watson, J Belehouan, M Beck. Booked: Roberts, Rose.
Referee: Andrew Hunphries
Attendance: 2,332(365 away)
