Having inflicted Dartford’s only league defeat of the season so far earlier in the campaign, Sutton got the better of the Kent side again to progress to the quarter finals of the Combined Counties League Cup. In a tight game that for an hour looked as if it could go either way, an own goal by former U’s defender Gabby Howell midway through the second half gave Sutton a lead which they defended well before a superb goal by Millie Cutler eight minutes from time sealed U’s success.
It was a hard-fought game, with both sides producing good approach work without being able to find the breakthrough in the first half. Cutler and Cassie Chase both sent volleys over the bar from the edge of the penalty area for Sutton, while at the other end Lizzy Knight made a good save from Charlotte Cunningham’s low shot.
The second half followed a similar pattern, but in the 65th minute U’s received a stroke of luck as Ella Meehan sent a free kick in to the Dartford penalty area and as players from both sides contested the ball it was Howell whose touch sent it in to the net, wrongfooting Harriet Kwok in the Dartford goal.
The visitors pressed for an equaliser, and almost had it when Leila Awan met a right wing cross with a close range shot that was well saved by Knight, whose defence did brilliantly to prevent Elsa Ejupi scrambling in the rebound.
There was a welcome return to action off the bench for Tessa Allen and Sophie Modak after injury and maternity leave respectively, and Modak almost marked her comeback with a goal as her low shot was saved by Kwok. In the end, the clincher came from a more regular scorer as Cutler showed good strength to hold the ball up before a delightful backheel sent substitute Emma Spear away down the left, and when Spear crossed low Cutler had made ground to meet the ball with a first time shot which went in off the post.
Dartford continued to look for a way back, and Cunningham’s shot was pushed in to the side netting by Knight, but they were unable to make any impression on a solid Sutton defence and U’s were able to celebrate their place in the quarter finals.
Sutton: L Knight, L Dunne, E Meehan, M Heavingham-Ford, B Humphrey, E Oliver, B Gilbert-Lawal, C Chase, M Cutler, N Sabania, A Warren. Subs used: P Langley, E Spear, S Modak, T Allen. Sub n/u M Taylor.
Photo credit: Paul Loughlin
