An 89th minute penalty scored by Callum Lee meant that Sutton left the EFL Youth Alliance with a third consecutive victory. Over the course of the game, it was Sutton who created the better of the chances with the U’s striking first just before the half hour mark through a fantastic finish by Jayden Keteku on his return from injury.
Stevenage tested Klevis Muca a couple of times in the second half before they found their equaliser with fifteen minutes to go, but it was Sutton that went on to win the game in the final minute of normal time as Lee calmly converted from the spot.
This game closed the curtains on Sutton’s EFL involvement as it now depends on the first team as to when they will next compete in this competition.
Glen Nichols made five changes from the side that put seven past Boreham Wood last Monday, including a return for Keteku as he played his first minutes since he was withdrawn early on in the win against Woking just under three weeks ago. There was also room in the starting eleven for several college boys such as Jack Pledge, Yohannes Ezekiel, Tae Bamidele and Jayden Obarotimi with Taylor Boon who was among the substitutes.
Sutton’s first moment came in the 8th minute, as a clever back heel from Bobby Sheargold found Obarotimi on the left flank whose cross was a good one although there was no Sutton shirt there to capitalise on it. Four minutes later U’s tested the Stevenage goalkeeper for the first time, as a delivery from Ezekiel was controlled inside the box by Sheargold before he offloaded it to Pledge whose first time shot from inside the box was straight at the goalkeeper.
Stevenage then tested Muca for the first time as a long shot was easily caught by the Sutton goalkeeper. Twenty minutes into the game the visitors created their best moment, as a cross from the left flank found a player inside the box whose curling effort went inches wide of Muca’s right post.
Four minutes prior to Sutton finding the back of net, Ronny Ruiz’s corner was met by Dan Urpens on the edge of the penalty area whose side footed volley on the turn went just over the bar, but U’s then found their goal as they made the most of having Urpens’ imposing throwing ability as a long throw was met on the volley inside the penalty area by Keteku, who drilled it across the goal keeper into the bottom far corner.
Sutton made a change at half-time which saw the goal scorer Keteku being replaced by Omotolani Bello and Stevenage started the second half brightly as after a shot on the turn was blocked by Adam Reeves, an effort was hit low from the edge of box with Muca pushing it away at his right-hand post. The visitors then tried to capitalise from a long throw themselves as this one was cleared towards the edge of the box before a low drilled volley was blocked.
Muca was then called into action two minutes later as their player tried to catch him out by curling a free kick from the left into the near post, although the Sutton goalkeeper read it and pushed it away to safety.
With fifteen minutes to go Stevenage found their equaliser, as after Sheargold had lost the ball on the edge of their box, the visitors played a long ball down the flank before the low delivery was converted from the inside the penalty box.
Glen did state that he could hear several Sutton player’s stating that “this isn’t done” and therefore was really pleased with his side’s response and dedication to go and score a second.
This was seen three minutes after Sutton had conceded with Ruiz playing a pass to Ezekiel on the right side of the penalty area with the midfielder cutting inside and seeing his shot saved at the near post. Bamidele was next to have a shot as his curling effort went well wide of the far post.
However, Sutton’s luck came as Obarotimi was brought down inside the penalty area with the referee awarding the penalty. Lee had earned the role of the designated penalty taker after he’d converted one against MK Dons a couple of weeks ago and again made no mistake as he stroked the penalty down the middle with the goalkeeper diving to his right hand side.
Sutton: K Muca, C Lee, D Urpens, A Reeves, J Pledge(sub D Ashia 84), R Ruiz, Y Ezekiel(sub T Boon 84), J Keteku(sub O Bello H-T), B Sheargold, J Obarotimi, T Bamidele. Subs n/u: L Ginger, J Coombes.
Having finished the EFL season with three wins in a row, Sutton can now put all of their energy into the National League Academy South as they continue to battle it out against Dartford for the league title. With Monday’s game against Maidenhead being rescheduled for later on in the month (15th May), Sutton have some more breathing space before they return to action away to Oxford City on Wednesday. The details for this game are yet to be confirmed. Dartford, who currently hold a one point lead over the U’s having played a game more, are at home to Aldershot on Wednesday.
Report and photo: Finlay Harris
