Two stoppage time goals gave the scoreline a slightly harsh look for Sutton as Saltdean made it three wins out of three in the London & South East Regional Women’s League without yet having conceded a goal. For the second week running Sutton gave a good account of themselves against one of the favourites for success this season, and in the last twenty minutes missed several opportunities to set up an exciting finish.
Saltdean took the lead midway through the first half with the first of three fairly soft goals, an unmarked header from a corner beating Megan Taylor, and before the interval they had doubled their lead when a run on the left was followed by a cross which deflected off a Sutton defender to wrongfoot Taylor at her near post.
Turning round with the advantage of the wind Sutton failed to make early inroads in the second half, and might have been further behind when a shot from outside the penalty area rattled the crossbar. Taylor pounced on the effort from the rebound, and then made an excellent save low to her right from another long range shot, and Sutton then began to put pressure on the visitors’ goal. Phoebe Langley’s shot was well saved at the near post and Becky Olumedeji stabbed the ball just wide under pressure from a defender. The Saltdean keeper made another good stop to push away Gabrielle Williams’ low shot, while Ella Meehan was narrowly off target with a volley from a half cleared set piece, but Sutton were unable to find the goal to give themselves hope, and in the first minute of stoppage time a left wing corner flew directly in to the net to put the match beyond doubt. Before the final whistle there was time for Saltdean to add the best of the goals, a sharp shot on the turn from just inside the penalty area.
Sutton are away to another side with three wins out of three, Brentford, next Sunday at Bedfont Sports Club.
Sutton: M Taylor, S Modak, T Allen, Z Walters, B Humphrey, K Burch-Waldron, E Spear, G Williams, M Cutler, H Baptiste, E Clark. Subs (all used): P Langley, A Warren, L Dunne, B Olumodeji, E Meehan.
