Burgundy is Green
Sutton United recorded back-to-back wins as they swept aside last season’s MFL 1 runners-up, Heather St. John’s, with a convincing 4-2 victory in their first home match of the new campaign.
Last season’s top goal scorer, Joe Gildea, got off the mark with a clinical brace of headers and new signing Ollie Burgundy netted his first two goals for the club in style, as United took a commanding four goal lead, before the visitors pulled two back in added time.
Sutton began brightly, looking strong in possession and they took the lead in the 10th minute from a well-worked set piece. Lewis Hayden broke out into space to receive a corner pass from Burgundy, before delivering into the danger area where Gildea beat his markers to head home from four yards.
Sutton continued to look a threat going forward and doubled their lead in the 16th minute when Harry Manton squared a pass for Burgundy to guide his shot in across the keeper.
Burgundy looked full of confidence and when he won the ball back in midfield to then skip round four players and feed Tom Massey in the box, the Sutton skipper was unlucky not to bag himself a goal on his birthday, as goalkeeper Matthew White, made a strong two-handed save.
Massey had another great chance before the half hour was up, but he was leaning back as he reached for the ball and his effort lifted over the crossbar, after some great work by Gildea to deliver from the byline
Heather St. John’s grew into the half the looked the stronger side for the last twenty minutes. They delivered several good balls from wide areas, with Matt Bishop, Aidan Mee and Jake Lamb all making important interceptions for the home side. Youngster Mee, stepping up from the Under-18’s, had an excellent game at right back, and his challenge in the 26th minute to deny Sam Grouse, who had beaten the offside to charge in on goal, was exceptional.
Sutton still had their chances, as an indirect free kick from inside the St. John’s penalty area was fired towards the far corner by Burgundy, where Josh Gunn cleared off the line for the visitors. And in the 40th minute, Lamb was denied his first goal for the club when his shot from 20 yards had White diving low to push behind his goal.
The action continued as a pulsating first half came to an end. Greg Lewis pulled off a fingertipped save to deny Haydn Brown from 25 yards, and then in the 45th minute, Burgundy made it 3-0 to the hosts with a stunning free-kick that he curled over the two-man wall to beat the diving White into the top corner of his net.
Chances for both sides continued into the second half, as Sutton saw a shot across goal from Dylan Green that was going just wide of the target, with Gildea unlucky not to reach as he slid in at the back post.
For the visitors, Grouse was denied an effort as he broke through Sutton’s defence, only to find Lewis quickly off his line to make the block on the edge of his area.
Sutton scored a fourth in the 67th minute, when Burgundy delivered a corner kick towards the near post and Gildea powered his header in past White for his second of the match.
St. John’s came close to a goal in the 75th minute when Jack Gunn’s strike from 20 yards had Lewis diving low to push behind his post. And for Sutton, when they won the ball high up the pitch, Harry Howard set up Oli Jeeves who saw his effort brilliantly saved by the athletic White.
The visitors kept pushing and working Sutton hard and they were rewarded with two late goals. Their substitutes were making an impact, with Nathan McGarrity heading home a George Ludlum free kick in the 90th minute, and that was quickly followed by another goal for McGarrity when he found the bottom corner after a scramble in the Sutton penalty box.
Despite the two late goals this was a comprehensive win for United against a very strong side and they can take that momentum into their next match on Saturday 9th August when they host Ingles at Coleshill Road Stadium.
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Aidan Mee – 83’ Tion Pearce
3. Harry Manton
4. Matt Bishop
5. Jake Lamb
6. Lewis Wall
7. Ollie Burgundy – 79’ Sam Jeeves
8. Lewis Hayden
9. Joe Gildea – 79’ Oli Jeeves
10. Tom Massey (c) – 79’ Hayden Froggatt
11. Dylan Green – 72’ Harry Howard
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Jon Huckfield
Aiden Jeynes
Marcus Davies
Evija Stauga
Team: Heather St. John’s
1. Matthew White
2. Jake Conkay (c)
3. Harry Stewart – 67’ George Ludlum
4. Josh Gunn
5. Macauley Holmes – 80’ Max Dutton
6. Jack Hession – 58’ Gabe Webster
7. Jack Robinson
8. Jack Gunn
9. Nathan McGarrity
10. Sam Grouse
11. Haydn Brown – 79’ Kye Wooldridge
Unused Sub: Tyler-Jack Weeks
Management/Assistants:
Neil Costello
Shaun Hession
Paul Griebel
James Grouse
Carl Liddington
Zoe Price
Match Officials: Alexander Richards, Michael Bingham, Adam Gittens
| Sutton United | Statistics | Heather St.Johns |
| 4 | Goals | 2 |
| 13 | Attempts | 10 |
| 9 | Attempts on Target | 6 |
| 48% | Possession | 52% |
| 4 | Corners | 8 |
| 11 | Fouls Committed | 7 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Joe Gildea | Opp Man of the Match | |
| Ollie Burgundy | Club Man of the Match |