Greens Make Dream Step 5 Debut
Sutton United marked the start of a new era in style with an impressive 2-1 victory away at one of the MFL Premier Division’s title favourites, Sporting Khalsa, on the opening day of the season.
Making their Step 5 debut, the Greens produced a disciplined and determined performance at the GW Arena to claim a historic first ever win at this level. After a competitive first half, it was debutant Jayden Hunter who wrote his name into the history books, opening Sutton’s Step 5 account with a fantastic finish early in the second half. Lewis Hayden then sealed an outstanding opening-day performance with a superb strike late on, before the hosts grabbed a stoppage-time consolation.
Sutton travelled to a Sporting Khalsa side expected to challenge for an immediate return to Step 4 following last season’s relegation. The hosts soon showed their strengths as they created several opportunities in the first half, although Greg Lewis was only seriously tested once, when he produced an excellent save to deny the lively Kaireice Cunningham. The winger also struck another effort just over the crossbar, whilst Harvey Smith threatened off set pieces, heading over from a free kick, before narrowly missing the target from a corner.
Sutton though, showed plenty of resilience, as Ben George came close with an effort at the back post off a corner, and shortly after Tom Massey won possession high up the pitch to set up Hunter, whose effort was well saved by Sporting goalkeeper Brandon Ganley.
Yet the best chance of the first half fell to Sporting’s Kieron Whittaker, as he fired over the bar just moments before the break.
Sutton looked stronger in the second half as they “went to plan B” as manager Neil Tooth explained after the match, and it soon paid off. Just four minutes after the restart, Ben George delivered a dangerous cross from the right, and with four players challenging for the ball, Hunter reacted brilliantly to finish from close range and give Sutton the perfect start to the second half.
Buoyed by the breakthrough, the Greens enjoyed their best spell of the afternoon. Aidan Mee tested Ganley with a powerful long-range effort that the goalkeeper pushed behind, before Hunter was denied a second by a brilliant save from Ganley at his near post.
Sporting responded with some sustained pressure as the game entered it’s closing stages. A frantic goalmouth scramble saw Lewis make a point-blank save, before Matt Bishop headed clear to preserve Sutton’s advantage.
Despite the late pressure, it was United who found that all important second goal in the 88th minute. Second half substitute Jordan Clement, another debutant, showed great composure to pick out Hayden on the edge of the box, and the midfielder drilled an excellent finish into the bottom corner.
The hosts continued to push forward and eventually pulled one back deep into stoppage time when Hirst’s strike found its way through a crowded penalty area and into the bottom corner. However, the Greens defended with tremendous determination to secure a memorable victory and the perfect start to life in the Premier Division.
Sutton saw encouraging performances throughout the squad, as new signing Jack Sang impressed on his debut down the left, while George and Hayden worked tirelessly in midfield. There were standout displays from the full backs, with a man-of-the-match performance by Aidan Mee and a debut from his brother Ethan Mee, who at 17 years old and a product of the Sutton youth teams, stepped into the First Team after replacing the injured Red Simmons midway through the first half, and produced a composed performance beyond his years.
Sutton will now look to build on their outstanding opening-day success when they welcome Lye Town to Coleshill Road for a ‘behind closed doors’ match on Tuesday 4th August.