Sutton United claimed their third win within a week to become one of five teams level on points at the top of the National League Football Academy South Division, with Eastleigh leading the way.
This marked Sutton’s third successive game at David Weir, and another positive conclusion was drawn.
From the first minute, Sutton made their intentions clear, giving Maidenhead a minimal amount of time to play. Glen Nichols stated that “ we create a lot of our chances from overturned balls on the press”. This was seen instantly, with Bobby Sheargold winning the ball back on the edge of the area, leading to the release of Ned Hepburn down the left, whose touch let him down as the ball ran out of play. However it was the visitors who nearly capitalised first. Charlie Emery, attempting to play a pass with the outside of his foot towards his teammate in his own half failed to get enough contact on the pass, resulting in Maidenhead’s No.9 getting a toe on the ball, but unable to get it under control, perhaps surprised to be presented with that sort of chance so early on. From here, Sutton launched several dangerous balls into the box, Dan Urpens, with a long throw from the right, landed the ball at the feet of Mehmet Halim, who was surrounded by bodies and couldn’t get his shot off. It was Charlie Bell who struck the first effort on the goal, meeting a ball in from left and hitting it on the turn, and on the volley, but skying his effort well over the bar.
Whenever Maidenhead had the ball Glen praised them for using it well, and this was shown with a cross coming in from left which fell towards the edge of the area, with a low drilled shot going wide of the left post. Halim, who’s back from injury, tried to make an opening for the hosts with a driving run from just inside the visitors’ half all the way into the penalty area, but eventually ran out of room. It was Jayden Oberotimi, fresh off the back of a goal against Newport on Saturday, who was the winger causing problems. After some link up play with Sheargold, a low cross from the right found Halim, whose effort from a tight angle was dealt with comfortably by the visitors. Maidenhead were dealing with everything Sutton challenged them with, several crosses from Hepburn on the left were put behind for corners, as well as overhit crosses from Bell being seen out of play.
It took 24 minutes, but Sutton registered their first shot on goal, a pinpoint deliver from a corner found the head of Urpens, who planted his header into the ground before it bounced nicely into the keeper’s hands. The frustration was starting to build, with Sheargold the next to try his luck, flashing an effort from the edge of the box wide of the right post. Maidenhead created another half chance, and it was their turn to utilise the long throw. The ball reaching the edge of the area with their No.3 hitting an effort on the volley, with an important block coming from a Sutton body.
Hepburn was the player that the hosts were always looking to give the ball to, and they had a good reason to. Receiving the ball on the left before driving into the box, beating his man, and shooting at the near post, ignoring options in the box. Every chance for the hosts was a mirror image of the last. However, this time Hepburn was inches away, going for goal again at the by-line, the ball hitting the keeper and bouncing onto the bar. A minute out from half time, the U’s broke the deadlock. Glen explained the importance of “ making set plays an asset” and this is how the goal occurred. It was from one Charlie to another, with Emery heading in Bell’s corner from the right into the bottom left corner.
No changes were made by the hosts at half time, and there was no necessity to. Four minutes into the second half and Sutton had breathing room, a strong drive forward from Halim releasing Hepburn on the left inside the area, and his low shot found the bottom right hand corner for his 2nd goal in two games. Despite the visitors need to start creating, Sutton were not stopping, Bell feeding Hepburn again down the side to cut inwards, but this time his shot was blocked. It felt that Sutton needed a third to make sure of points, and Sheargold very nearly did just that, receiving the ball on the edge of the box and striking a half volley inches wide of the left post. Glen Nichols stated that “ the execution is what has let us down this season”
Maidenhead finally started to find some rhythm, their No.8 was all alone on the left hand side, but the pass was too strong, which saw a golden opportunity wasted. The visitors eventually struck as a long, direct ball over the top was misjudged by Emery, leading to their No.11 tapping it past Klevis Muca to set up what turned out to be an uncomfortable final 20 minutes for the hosts. Maidenhead saw another chance go astray, a shot from the edge of the box going over the crossbar.
Sutton had another chance to wrap up the points, as Bell released Sheargold down the left, but his effort was directed straight at the keeper. With seconds remaining, chaos occurred, with another ball over the top for the visitors, seeing their No.8 running through on goal. However, Adam Reeves pulled back his man for a free kick on the edge of the area. Reeves escaped with a booking, with fans expressing his fortune to avoid a sending off. Unfortunately for Maidenhead, they couldn’t capitalise, with the free kick going well over Muca’s goal.
Team: K Muca, C Emery(sub T Salaam 74), A Reevss, R Ruiz, D Urpens, L Ashburn, J Oberotimi, C Bell, M Halim(sub R Drysdale 62), B Sheargold, N Hepburn(sub G Katana 62). Sub n/u C Lee.
The National League Under 19 Alliance Division F team lost 3-2 at Hertford, with goals from Josh Jenkins and Areshai Dillon.
Sutton are next back in action at David Weir this Saturday where they host a Bromley side who sit 10th in the table, 4 points off Sutton, but having played two games less. Kick off is slightly earlier than usual at 10.30am.
Report: Finlay Harris
