Sutton’s hopes of reaching the FA Youth Cup competition proper were ended as Merstham produced a perfect set of penalties in the shootout following a goalless draw.
The ninety minutes that preceded the shootout saw few clear chances, with the best coming in the first half as Merstham’s Shay Dunn shot wildly over from a right wing cross, while at the other end Omotolani Bello missed his kick and Charlie Bell’s shot was saved by Merstham keeper Kieran Bassom before James Fennelow put a header over the top from a Dan Urpens cross.
Chances were at an even greater premium after the break, with Jaminda Robinson and Luyande Mafu both off target for Merstham and Sutton substitute Josh Jenkins seeing a shot saved in a goalmouth scramble.
The penalty shoot out took its decisive turn early, with Bell’s shot saved well to his left by Bassom after Marcus Long had scored Merstham’s first effort, and although Adam Reeves, Ned Hepburn and Bobby Sheargold made no mistake, Merstham’s faultless performance meant that Harley Stuart-Forde’s successful conversion of their fifth penalty saw them through.
Sutton: K Muca, H Boateng(sub T Boon 90), A Reeves, R Ruiz(sub E Yohannes 86), D Urpens, D Ashia, O Bello, C Bell, J Fennelow(sub J Jenkins 73), B Sheargold, N Hepburn. Subs n/u C Lee, J Pledge, M N’Zi, E Van Der Berg.
