After the double disappointment of missing out on the National League Academy South Division championship and the League Cup on Wednesday, Sutton ensured that an excellent season at Academy level would end on a winning note against a Welling side who would have clinched a top six finishing position with victory.
Playing a league game at Gander Green Lane for the first time this season, Sutton had the greater possession throughout the game but struggled to create clear cut chances early on in a game that started in low-key fashion but developed in to an entertaining encounter in the second half. Liam Moore’s outstanding goal from inside his own half set U’s on the way just before half time, and despite U’s again missing a number of chances, Bobby Sheargold and Geri Katana made sure of the victory in the second half.
The main goalmouth activity in the early stages was confined to a sixty second spell in which excellent defending by Geri Katana and Dan Urpens denied Welling a shooting chance before Sutton went straight to the other end and Omotolani Bello beat a defender before sending in a low shot that was saved by Welling goalkeeper Peter Balogun
U’s had to wait until just before half time to conjure up their next clear chance, with Tae Bamidele’s low cross met at the far post by Leo Ginger who was unable to direct the ball inside the post at full stretch and twisted his ankle as he fell. However while he was being treated off the pitch and U’s were temporarily down to ten men a moment of inspiration from Liam Moore provided the breakthrough as he received the ball in the centre circle inside his own half, spotted Balogun off his line and sent an unerring shot over the stranded keeper and in to the net.
Sutton were in top for most of the second half, with Bamidele just failing to connect properly with a Bello cross, and then seeing a low shot touched past the post by Balogun, who also twice denied Sheargold as he blocked his first shot and then took the ball off the midfielder’s toes as he tried to go round him. However there was no mistake from Sheargold midway through the half when he intercepted one of several loose passes out from the back by Welling, and this time took the ball round Balogun before slotting home.
Welling twice hit the woodwork in the second half, with one cross from the right thudding against the outside of the post and then Salifou Oidibe sending a low shot against the foot of the same post. Oidibe had two more chances in quick succession, lifting the ball over the advancing Klevis Muca but wide of the post, and then hitting a shot on the turn which was superbly turned over by Muca.
Sutton saw several other chances come and go but with six minutes to go the last goal of the academy season was a first of the season for Geri Katana (below), who intercepted a poor pass from Balogun and rolled the ball back past the keeper in to the net.
U’s were denied a clean sheet in the last minute when Oliver Grimes cut in from the right and beat Muca at his near post, but it was virtually the last kick of the game as U’s finished the season with a victory which saw them finish three points behind champions Dartford, who we congratulate.
Sutton: K Muca, C Lee, G Katana, B San Norton, D Urpens, L Ginger(sub R Ruiz 44), O Bello(sub R Drysdale 77), T Bamidele(sub K McKenzie 60), J Obarotimi(sub A Reeves 82), L Moore(Sub N Nzuzi H-T), B Sheargold.
