For the fourth EFL Youth Alliance match in a row, Sutton failed to retain their lead as Luton were triumphant in a 3-1 win.

Sutton had their first opportunity to strike at goal ten minutes into the game. Following a throw from Blake San-Norton which was flicked further forward by Bobby Sheargold, an exchange of aerial  passes between Leo Ginger and Mehmet Halim saw Ginger’s side-footed volley go over the bar. The hosts were then sloppy minutes later,  after Derrell Ashia was dispossessed  by Luca Knote-Reed who carried the ball forward before dragging a shot wide of the post.

Glen Nichols believed that Sutton could hurt Luton out wide, which was where the opening goal came from. After Omotolani Bello had beaten his man on the wing, he moved into the penalty area before his cross was met by Halim whose side footed volley found the top corner. Glen has identified the striker as a “natural goalscorer”.

The Hatters created an opening three minutes later as a through ball by Knote-Reed saw Klevis Muca fly off his line to collect it, denying the striker the chance to take advantage. Seven minutes from half-time, Jay Coombes had headed a Luton cross against his own arm, with the referee awarding a penalty. Archie Shepherd side footed the ball down the middle with Muca diving to his right hand side.  In April alone, that was the fourth penalty that the U’s had conceded which Glen agrees is too many.

Within the last couple of minutes of the half, a low clearance by Luton’s goalkeeper Blade Earley fell to the feet of Ginger, whose attempt from thirty five yards went over the bar, with Glen stating that he was really frustrated to be level at the break.

Sutton did make two changes with San-Norton and Halim being replaced by Taylor Boon and Josh Jenkins. Halim has been struggling with fitness, and Glen did say that the forty five minutes that he  had played, was more than we expected of him. Seven minutes into the second half, Sheargold cut inside from the right hand side but shot straight at Earley.

One of Sutton’s substitutes Jenkins nearly put the U’s back in front, as a clipped ball forward by Adam Reeves was collected by the striker who carried the ball down the flank and  into the penalty area, before his shot from a tight angle went past the far post. The Hatters  then created their first chance of the second half. A low cross by Shepherd from the right flank was hit first time by the striker David Gawel with his effort going past the post. It took Luton 72 minutes to force Muca into his first save from open play as a corner from the left hit the foot of a Luton player, leading to Sutton’s goalkeeper making a low save with his feet.

With just over ten minutes of normal time to play, Luton had completed the comeback. A through ball saw both Muca and the Luton winger Ty Lesser reaching for the ball. Despite the Sutton goalkeeper getting their first, the outstretched leg of Lesser forced Muca to spill the ball, which then fell to the substitute Samuel Hincapie-Alfonso who passed it into an empty net.

With Luton’s substitute making the difference, one of Sutton’s then looked to do the same. A pass from Ginger found Jenkins who cut inside before shooting low, forcing Earley to save the ball with his feet.

Two minutes from time, the Hatter’s made sure that they were going to get back to winning ways. A switch of play from Kyron Roberts-Edema found the striker Luxton who navigated into the penalty area before opening up his body and placing the shot into the bottom corner.

This marked Sutton’s third straight defeat in the EFL Youth Alliance. On the other hand, this result has put Luton’s two successive away defeats behind them. Glen said after the game that after this performance, it makes his decision easier when picking the squad for Monday’s game.

Sutton: K Muca, B San-Norton( sub T Boon H-T), J Coombes( sub H Boateng 78), A Reeves, G Katana, L Ginger, D Ashia, E Yohannes( sub T Bamidele 73), B Sheargold, O Bello( sub M Nzi 78), M Halim( sub J Jenkins H-T).

Sutton return to National League action on Monday afternoon as they host Woking. These two teams last met at the start of March, which saw Sutton only walk away with a point after surrendering a two goal lead. Although, Glen has made it clear that if Sutton find themselves in that position again, then they won’t make the same mistake. Kick Off for this game is 12.00 at Leatherhead Youth Club.

Report: Finlay Harris