Sutton United’s unbeaten run of six games in the EFL Youth Alliance ground to a halt with a 1-3 home defeat to a Barnet side who got back to winning ways after their 2-3 defeat to Wimbledon last time out.
The visitors nearly took the lead early on when a corner that was cleared to the edge of the box was hit through a crowd of bodies, falling to a Barnet player three yards from goal whose low shot was smartly saved by Klevis Muca. Sutton started to create chances of their own, as Ned Hepburn received the ball on the left flank, trying to play Bobby Sheargold into the penalty area, however, Barnet’s backline got across to cover the danger. A game in which Sutton were getting into good positions but lacked that end product was going to be the narrative of the morning. Rashaad Drysdale was next to try to create an opening for the hosts when receiving the ball on the right hand side, attempting to play the ball into James Fennelow’s feet, but failing to get it under control. Barnet won a free kick about 35 yards from Muca’s goal which saw an ambitious low drive go well past the left post.
The frustration started to build for the hosts, and when Fennelow looked set to break away from Barnet’s backline he was stopped in his tracks as he pulled a Barnet shirt. Sutton continued to try their luck when Noah Nzuzi was standing over a free kick from 45 yards from which he tried to catch out the visitors’ keeper, but saw his effort fly over the bar.
All of Barnet’s possession finally resulted in glory when some sharp interplay down Sutton’s right hand side led to them picking out a player just inside the penalty area who fired his shot towards the left hand corner, despite Muca getting a strong hand, the shot was too powerful and the visitors led. Sutton were hunting an equaliser as Sheargold picked up the ball on the left flank, playing Omotolani Bello in behind who cut it back to Hepburn just inside the penalty area, but he sliced his shot diagonally past the right hand side of the goal.
Sutton’s lack of composure in front of goal was their enemy, as Barnet were gifted a golden opportunity three minutes from half time when a cross from the right found Barnet’s centre forward who got a toe on the ball just ahead of Adam Reeves, who brought him down for a spot kick. Despite Muca having a good record of stopping penalties during the U19 Division F opener vs Dorking, Barnet’s midfielder stepped up and rifled the ball into the top right corner giving Muca no chance, despite diving the correct way. Sutton kept going to the whistle and their resilience paid off when Drysdale received the ball on the right and took a low shot which was smartly saved, but Fennelow was alert to tap the ball home from close range to give Sutton hope on the stroke of half time.
As the second half dawned, Sutton turned to the bench and saw their goal scorer depart for the in-form Josh Jenkins who already has netted five times this campaign. The hosts’ final delivery was still lacking, as a corner from Reeves went over everyone, eluding Jenkins at the back post. Bello was next to lead the Sutton charge, finding Hepburn on the left flank driving towards the six yard box, who lashed his shot over the bar ignoring Jenkins in the middle. Everything that Sutton created stemmed from the left side, from which Hepburn delivered a low ball across the box looking for Jenkins, but Barnet were shaper and dealt with the danger.
Glen Nichols spoke about Sutton lacking concentration and alertness to Barnet’s mistakes which were on display again as a poor ball from the visitors’ keeper found Sheargold who wasn’t quite sure what to do, and ended up lashing a shot across the penalty area.
Despite Sutton having full control, the visitors should have struck for a third time, when a low ball from Sutton’s left found the back post, three Barnet players all having a swipe which resulted in a mix of blocks and a couple of huge saves from Muca to keep the hosts alive.
As the game entered the final stage, a Sutton corner was cleared with only one player back, Barnet’s star man in midfield got to the ball first on the half way line and had plenty of space to run into, opening up his body and placing it into the bottom right corner to double his tally for the day, and most importantly seal all three points for the visitors.
After the game, Glen Nichols stated that two of the three goals on another day were avoidable, stating “ first two goals not good enough”. Glen was pleased to see the team’s attitude towards the end of the first half stating “ it shows the boys’ resilience”, but said “we have to be more clinical” as regards finishing.
Team: K Muca, D Urpens, A Reeves, D Ashia, N Nzuzi, J Keteku, R Drysdale, B Sheargold, J Fennelow, O Bello, N Hepburn. Subs J Jenkins , G Katana, T Boon, H Boateng.
Sutton are next back in EFL Youth Alliance action on the 25th October away at a Cheltenham side who currently sit 4th from bottom, but before that there is the FA Youth Cup tie at home to Merstham in the week of 13th October, as well as games in the National League Under 19 Alliance – check the website for dates, venues and kick off times.
Report by Finlay Harris
