Win against Wednesfield

Goals from Leyton Hines, Joe Gildea and Zach Binns gave Sutton United a comprehensive win against Wednesfield Community at Coleshill Road Stadium.

There were five changes to the line-up for Sutton, with Jonny Grigg, Tom Massey and Leyton Hines starting, alongside youngsters Josh Rudge and James Gallagher who were making their second and third appearances respectively.

Sutton looked comfortable on the ball from the kick off and began to create several chances in front of goal. Gildea hit the post with a 30-yard free kick, before United took the lead in the 7th minute. Rudge drove towards the edge of the Wednesfield penalty box before finding Hines, who executed a clinical finish across the keeper and into the bottom corner of the net.

Wednesfield’s best chance of the half came from a free kick in the 10th minute, as Greg Lewis made a double save to deny Eynoux Bognini and then Shaun Gordon with the rebound.

However, it was the hosts who were controlling the game and a nice interchange between Binns, Massey and Hines on the left of the penalty box almost resulted in a goal for Gildea, but goalkeeper Conner Howe made an excellent save at his near post to deny the striker.

Rudge was working hard to press high up the pitch and when he intercepted the ball in the 18th minute, the Under-21 player then delivered the perfect cross for Gildea to head home his eighteenth goal of the season and double United’s lead.

Sutton continued to look a threat going forward with Hines denied a goal when he strayed just off-side, and Jonny Grigg coming close when his driven shot from distance was well saved by the diving Howe.

United began the second half with the same intensity, as Gildea saw an effort well blocked by a Wednesfield defender; Grigg found the side netting sliding in at back post; and Matt Bishop skimmed a header just wide of the target.

The visitors had their chances, and when they broke through the middle of Sutton’s defence in the 68th minute, Lewis was off his line quickly with a strong challenge just outside his area. And when Ashton Honeyghan found himself free on the right of goal in the 77th minute, his shot-come-cross towards the back post was cleared in front of goal by Tion Pearce for Sutton.

Oli Jeeves came on for United and saw two great chances go wide of the mark: first with a header over the bar after Massey had shrugged off his marker to deliver a cross to the back post; and then a touch that skimmed just wide after good work from Sam Jeeves to square the ball across goal.

Sutton continued to press forward, and Hayden Froggatt did well to work some space on the left before turning inside and shooting with his right foot, as Howe made another strong save to push the shot around his post.

A third goal came for United in added time, when Binns fired into the roof of the net at the back post, after Howe had saved Gildea’s initial shot and Oli Jeeves’ back-heel effort was blocked by Aaron Lescott.

Next Saturday Sutton travel to Leicestershire for their league match against Lutterworth Athletic with a 3pm kick off.

Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Tion Pearce
3. Zach Binns
4. Matt Bishop – 62’ Abdul Touaiti
5. James Gallagher
6. Sef Semlali – 74’ Harry Howard
7. Jonny Grigg
8. Tom Massey (c) – 75’ Sam Jeeves
9. Leyton Hines – 67’ Oli Jeeves
10. Joe Gildea
11. Josh Rudge – 67’ Hayden Froggatt

Management/Assistants:
Liam Burke, Richard Heath, Adam Watson Derek Culling, Amelia Small

Team: Wednesfield Community
1. Connor Howe
2. Ashton Honeyghan – 83’ Callum Swain
3. Jake Griffiths (c) – 82’ Nathan Jackson
4. Aaron Lescott
5. Shaun Gordon
6. Sheikh Mutarr Barrow – 46 Sachin Bargota
7. Sebi Fyfield
8. Eynoux Bognini
9. Harvey Dangerfield – 67’ Nana Boateng
10. Dilpreet Sandhu – 87’ Leo Fyfield
11. Ben Novis

Management/Assistants:
Ben Holden, Lee Blake

Match Officials: Thomas Edis, Callum Finnegan, Steve Harford