United at the double
Goals from Joe Gildea and Oli Jeeves gave Sutton United victory at home to Gornal Athletic in the MFL 1.
Gildea set Sutton on their way to victory when he slotted home from close range, before Oli Jeeves made sure of the points with a back post finish in the second half.
Sutton made three changes to the team from last Saturday with Greg Lewis coming back into goal and starts for Zach Binns and Sam Jeeves.
There was an early scare for Sutton when Nathan Jones won the ball for Gornal on the edge of Sutton’s penalty area and with only Greg Lewis to beat, the forward fired into the side netting.
United were forced into an early change when centre-back George Ray turned his ankle, and Jonny Grigg came on as right back with Tion Pearce moving into the centre-back position.
Sutton looked strong at the back, dealing with some dangerous crosses from the left, but they were struggling to make an impact on the Gornal goal. Most opportunities had come from set pieces, the best a Gildea header from six yards that was parried by the Gornal keeper, Louis Connor.
Sutton did find a way through in 29th minute when they put together their best move of the half. Grigg, Oli Jeeves and Abdul Touaiti combined down the right, before Sef Semlali’s threaded pass fed Hayden Froggatt into the penalty area, and his cross was perfect for Gildea to slot the ball home from close range.
Gornal then had their best chance to score, as Nathan Guest intercepted the ball on the edge of Sutton’s penalty box, before his strike from the left of goal was superbly stopped by Lewis at his near post.
Sutton’s passing improved in the second half as they built their attacks from the back and it wasn’t long before they had the ball in the back of the Gornal net when Froggatt tucked away a rebound off a Gildea shot, only for the goal to be chalked off for offside.
United did get their two-goal cushion in the 54th minute when Sam Jeeves swept the ball wide for Touaiti on the right, and his driven cross was finished at the back post by Oli Jeeves for his 12th goal of the season.
The rest of the match was then dominated by fouls, free kicks, stoppages and sending offs, with Gornal finishing the match with nine men as their captain Luke Carter, and substitute Ibrahim Almane, both saw a red for two yellow cards.
Sutton did not allow their opponents time on the ball with Sam Jeeves and Touaiti working hard in midfield and a strong game from the two full backs, Binns and Grigg.
United did not have it all their own way with Gornal getting their chances in front of goal as Guest struck the crossbar from the edge of the penalty area, and Luke Sidaway volleyed wide of the target from six yards.
Sutton did, however, have two more goals disallowed for tight offside decisions: another Froggatt strike at the back post and a Matt Bishop header off Sam Jeeves’ free kick.
Sidaway came close for Gornal deep into added time, with a header off a corner kick that skimmed over the cross bar, but ultimately United finished comfortable winners and with a well-deserved clean sheet.
Sutton get next weekend off, with their next fixture on Wednesday 12th February when they host Chelmsley Town at Coleshill Road Stadium 7.45pm kick off.
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Tion Pearce
3. Zach Binns
4. Matt Bishop (c)
5. George Ray – 15’ Jonny Grigg
6. Sam Jeeves
7. Abdul Touaiti
8. Sef Semlali – 66’ Sam Simmonds
9. Hayden Froggatt – 79’ Jack Skinner
10. Joe Gildea – 86’ Harry Howard
11. Oli Jeeves – 79’ Leyton Hines
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Adam Watson
Bobby Brittan
Derek Culling
Amelia Small
Team: Gornal Athletic
1. Louis Connor
2. Bradley Welding
3. Josh Godwin
4. Chad Carter – 43’ Nathan Weir
5. Ben Priest
6. Harry Higginson
7. Nathan Guest – 80’ James Westwood
8. Luke Carter (c)
9. Luke Sidaway
10. Nathan Jones
11. Mark Gore – 56’ Ibrahim Almane
Management/Assistants:
Dave King
Kieran Bustin
Steve Fellows
Wayne Shakespeare
Jake Lee-Sinner
Ellie Higginson
Match Officials: Paul Kiely, Robert Brown, Paul Gordon