Sutton missed out on the opportunity to overtake the National League Under 19 Academy South Division leaders Southend as they squandered a two goal cushion to Woking on Wednesday afternoon. However, with still two games in hand on the Shrimpers, while still only a point behind, Glen Nichols is “happy to be where we are”.
It was a bright start by the U’s, as after Rashaad Drysdale received the ball inside the penalty area he was brought down, presenting Sutton with an opportunity to strike inside the first sixty seconds. Despite having multiple penalty takers on the pitch, it was Drysdale who took full responsibility, confidently placing his effort into the bottom corner, sending the goalkeeper the opposite way.
The Cardinals came close to levelling immediately, as after Jay Coombes was dispossessed in his own half, McQueen powered towards Sutton’s goal before drilling a shot just past the left post. The U’s continued to be sloppy in possession. This time, though, Derell Ashia was the perpetrator. The ball found its way to the edge of the penalty area, only for the midfielder’s effort to curl past the top corner.
Sutton nearly struck again in the thirteenth minute, after a run from Drysdale down the flank led to a floating delivery towards the back post, which was met by Omotolani Bello only for his low shot to be deflected over the bar.
Woking found themselves in another promising position after a driving run from Patterson, who was unchallenged all the way into the box until Junior Eccleston stepped in at the last moment, clearing the danger.
Sutton did go on to strike for a second time nine minutes before the interval, after some dazzling footwork by Drysdale on the edge of the penalty area which led to the attacker beating his man before delivering a low cross which was turned in by a red and white shirt.
However, the hosts were finally in luck. Glen Nichols expressed his concern at how open Sutton were in the middle of the pitch, and this was where Woking pounced from. An uninterrupted run from Wilson found himself inside the U’s penalty area, and despite a tackle from Eccleston, the ball found its way to the other side, for ex-Sutton striker Joden Trickett to direct the ball back into the opposite bottom corner.
Glen Nichols did not hesitate to make a change at half time, a switch in the midfield seeing Ronny Ruiz depart for Noah Nzuzi in an attempt to try and make Sutton more secure in the centre of the pitch.
Woking were on the hunt for the equaliser, and they were getting closer. The midfielder Travin cut inside on the edge of the area, seeing his effort whizz past the far corner. Ten minutes later, Woking had completed the comeback, after a well timed ball in behind the U’s back line was met by Trickett who smashed the ball low and hard inside Kelvis Muca’s near post, claiming his second of the afternoon. However, the Sutton goalkeeper will know he could have done better.
Sutton came close to a third after Nzuzi laid the ball off to substitute George Vorster on the edge of the box, only for his low strike to be blocked. With just over fifteen minutes to go, Jayden Keteku produced a wonderful through ball towards the penalty area for Vorster to chase, although the pass had a little bit too much on it, resulting in the goalkeeper collecting. Sutton came close again after a cross on the far side from Callum Lee was importantly pushed away by the goalkeeper, with Vorster waiting all alone at the back post.
Muca was then called into action eight minutes from time as a through ball found the striker Boxhall who was one on one with Muca, Sutton’s keeper winning the battle by blocking the effort.
Time was running out for Sutton to leapfrog Southend, as Vorster showed great desire to get to a cross before the goalkeeper and set it up on the edge of the box for Ashia, whose effort glided over the bar. As the clock struck ninety minutes Sutton were presented with one final chance. Another dangerous ball from Lee found substitute James Fennelow whose first time effort struck the post, the ball did find its way to a sprinting Ashia, whose follow up effort was hit at the goalkeeper.
Despite the chances for Sutton, they could not regain the lead and had to settle for a point. Glen Nichols did proclaim that with the players’ disappointment after drawing the game, it is “a measure of how far we have come”.
Sutton enter another frantic schedule playing three times in the next five days. The first of these is in the EFL Youth Alliance on Saturday away to Gillingham who currently sit seven points behind the U’s. The game is at Gillingham’s Beechings Cross training ground, kick off 10.30.
Sutton : K Muca, C Lee, J Eccleston, J Coombes( sub L Ashburn 59), A Reeves, R Ruiz(sub N Nzuzi H-T), D Ashia, R Drysdale(sub B Sheargold 81), J Keteku, O Bello(sub G Vorster 59), K McKenzie(sub J Fennelow 68)
The U19s Division F side were also in action on Wednesday, where they suffered a 3-1 defeat to third placed Eastleigh. Blake San-Norton struck for the second time this season for the U’s. Their next Division F game is on Wednesday against Dartford at Cheam Sports Club in Peaches Close, kick off 1pm.
Report: Finlay Harris
