Semlali goal gives Sutton the win
Andrew Delaney
Sef Semlali’s first half header was enough for Sutton to claim an important victory away at Coventry Copsewood.
Semlali’s first goal of the season was a terrific header in the 16th minute from Will Buchanan’s delivery, and it was the highlight of an energetic first half performance from Sutton which should have seen them going into the break two or three goals to the good.
The midfielder was playing in a more attacking role and could have had a hat-trick as he was denied by both the woodwork and keeper Olly Manuel. Kieron McConville and Sam Price looked lively up front for Sutton, and both had opportunities blocked by some strong defending from Copsewood.
The home side had a couple of good chances on the counterattack, with Eden Mukenge striking the crossbar early in the half and Jean Gomes curling an effort that had Reiss Wagstaff diving to keep out of the top corner of his net.
Sam Simmonds returned to the first team for Sutton and worked hard in the centre of midfield, alongside the impressive Will Jones who, in the 42nd minute, found himself on the end of an off-the-ball altercation with Mukenge that saw the Copsewood striker shown a straight red card.
Now down to ten men, the hosts made two changes for the start of the second half, bringing on Husana Noma and Sam Hewitt and they began to push hard for an equaliser. Sean Kavanagh had a great chance early on with a back post header that went over the target.
United continued to pose a threat going forward, hitting the woodwork again when McConville’s shot across the keeper clipped the upright, with Price sprinting in at the back post but unable to find a finish. And late in the half, substitute Matt Bishop’s effort drew a fine save from Manuel.
Copsewood pressed in the final stages, but Sutton worked hard to earn their first clean sheet since their opening match of the season. Indeed, United have been guilty of letting leads slip in recent matches, so tensions were running high as the game drew to a close, and when the hosts won a corner in the eleventh minute of added time, it was captain, Wagstaff, who saved the day for Sutton with a superb save to deny Joe Anthony.
The win sees Sutton climb out of the relegation zone and up to fourteenth in the table, providing a much-needed confidence boost for their next match on Saturday 9th September when they travel to Droitwich Spa.
Team: Coventry Copsewood
1. Olly Manuel
2. Sam Anthony Ellis
3. Joe Anthony
4. Jake Upton – 45’ Husama Noma
5. Ben Atkins
6. Brandon Patterson – 45’ Sam Hewitt
7. Charlie Gordon – 62’ Harvey Billing
8. Harvey Wells
9. Sean Kavanagh (c)
10. Eden Mukenge
11. Jean Patrick Gomes
Management/Assistants:
PJ Gordon
Paul Tierney
Dave Levick
Steve Shaw
Team: Sutton United
1. Reiss Wagstaff (c)
2. Jonny Grigg
3. Mark Moore
4. Lewis James – 80’ Matt Bishop
5. Tion Pearce-Copeland
6. Sam Simmonds
7. Will Jones – 70’ Kye Billingham-Belle
8. Sef Semlali – 90+1’ Matt Hurrell
9. Kieron McConville – 88’ Harrison Coe
10. Sam Price
11. Will Buchanan – 82’ Ryan Delport
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Matt Gough
Chris Bratt-Rose
Amelia Small
Match Officials: Jamie Howe, Callum Chantler, Orkan Bedre
| Coventry Copsewood | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 0 | Goals | 1 |
| 10 | Attempts | 14 |
| 5 | Attempts on Target | 8 |
| 54% | Possession | 46% |
| 6 | Corners | 7 |
| 11 | Fouls Committed | 11 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 3 |
| 1 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Man of the Match | Reiss Wagstaff |
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Opp MOTM |
| Joe Gildea | 7 | 5 | 1 | 2 |
| Leyton Hines | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Yousef Semlali | 8 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| Tom Massey | 7 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Joe Delaney | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Jon Grigg | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Sam Price | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Brad Gregory | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas Cullen | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kaine Donald | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Lewan Tobin | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Will Buchanan | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kye Billingham-Belle | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Lewis James | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reiss Wagstaff | 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Tion Pearce-Copeland | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harrison Coe | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Jones | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Murrell | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Kieran McConville | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Moore | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Remi Bell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ryan Delport | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Bishop | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Cooper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethan Hanks | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Hurrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Simmonds | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 16 | 13 |