Sutton produced a fine performance against higher ranked opposition to reach the quarter finals of the Capital Senior Cup. Actonians, who play in the same division of the Women’s National League as U’s FA Cup conquerors Chatham and are just two points behind them in the table, made sure it was a nervous ending for Sutton supporters as they fought back from 3-0 down but U’s were able to hold on through eleven minutes of stoppage time and claim an excellent victory.
Sutton went ahead in the 7th minute when Millie Cutler ran on to Emma Spear’s pass and neatly lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper. The shot may have been going in but Brianna Gilbert-Lawal made sure with a header in to the open goal. Actonians had a lot of possession but Sutton defended well, often forcing their opponents back towards the halfway line, and they were reduced to long range shots that were off target, although one did clip the top of the crossbar on its way over.
U’s extended their lead four minutes before half time when Cutler was fouled fifteen yards inside the Actonians half and, not for the first time this season, Ella Meehan delivered an accurate free kick that flew in to the top corner of the net with the keeper helpless. Cutler also had a chance from a free kick after Gilbert-Lawal had run on to a superb Spear pass and been tripped on the edge of the penalty area, but this time the keeper was able to save.
Actonians started the second half well with only a brilliant tackle by Gilbert-Lawal on the edge of the six yard box preventing what looked to be a certain goal just three minutes in, and her work was rewarded when U’s went further ahead just before the hour mark. Spear collected Cutler’s pass down the right and beat her defender on the outside, and when she pulled the ball back from the by-line Cutler had made ground in to the penalty area to crash a shot past the helpless keeper.
As in the first half Actonians had the majority of possession but again failed to find the required finish until eleven minutes from time when they scored with an unmarked header from a corner. As they increased the pressure Taylor made one fine save away to her left to keep out a header, but Sutton had a glorious chance to make the game safe when a quick free kick left Cutler with just the keeper to beat but her shot rebounded back off the keeper’s legs. U’s had to survive eleven minutes of stoppage time, and in the tenth of those Actonians reduced the arrears further from a penalty after substitute Dominique Grey was adjudged to have fouled an opponent as the ball came in from the right, but they didn’t have time to go for the equaliser and Sutton were able to claim a quarter final place.
Sutton: M Taylor, L Dunne, E Meehan, A Warren(sub E Moon), M Heavingham-Ford, C Chase (sub E Clark), E Spear(sub B Olumodeji), P Langley(sub S Chapman), M Cutler, H Baptiste, B Gilbert-Lawal(sub D Grey).
The development side maintained their 100% record in the Surrey Premier Division of the Soiuth East Counties League as they swept Epsom & Ewell aside 9-0, repeating the scoreline in the awy game in September. Tess Ciccardini led the way with four of the goals, Rachel Marlow scored twice and there was one apiece for Sophie Sumner, Bonnie Quaintance and Ella Khaldoun.
