Gildea hat-trick leads Sutton comeback
Andrew Delaney8 Oct 2023
Sutton twice come from behind against a spirited Coton Green to edge a seven-goal thriller and record back-to-back victories at Coleshill Road.
A hat-trick from striker Joe Gildea, including an 81st minute winner, completed an impressive comeback from Sutton, who were 3-1 down early in the second half. Shane Smith also played a pivotal part, coming off the bench to deliver a goal and an assist, whilst at the other end of the pitch, defender Mark Moore stepped up to start in goal, with some crucial saves that helped to secure an important victory for the home side.
As the autumnal sun shone on the 182 strong crowd, there was a real buzz around Coleshill Road, with a welcome gathering of past players and the Under-9 Lions team providing a sterling job as ball boys and match mascots.
It was the first meeting between these clubs since Leyton Hines, Brad Gregory and Remi Bell moved from Sutton to Coton Green earlier this season and they all lined up against United for today’s match. There was an even start to the game with a few half chances for both teams before the visitors broke the deadlock in the 26th minute, when Stuart Hendrie slotted home Sahel Yessen’s cross at the back post.
Sutton’s equaliser came in the 33rd minute when Gildea turned in Kieron McConville’s cross under the challenge of Gregory at the near post.
Yessen was causing problems for Sutton and his effort in the 41st minute had Moore diving to push the shot behind. But Moore could do nothing about his next effort as the youngster scored with a clinical finish from the left of goal, a minute into injury time at the end of the first half.
Coton Green had a positive ten minutes at the start of the second half, extending their lead in the 47th minute when Hendrie scored a free kick, right on the edge of the penalty box, for his second of the match.
As the visitor’s pressed, Moore made an instinctive save to punch away Matthew O’Beirne’s header from a corner kick, followed by a strong save to deny Cory Powell from twenty yards.
The next goal was crucial, and it was Sutton who got themselves back into the game when Gildea headed in Sef Semlali’s corner kick in the 56th minute to make it 2-3.
Smith’s introduction in the 58th minute provided an attacking injection into Sutton’s game, and they pulled level in the 74th minute, when captain Tom Massey threaded the ball through for Smith to charge into the penalty area and beat keeper, Duncan Van Den Top, with a fine finish.
Smith was also instrumental in the winning goal, as he beat two defenders for pace before laying the ball back for Gildea to fire in off the post from twenty yards, for his eleventh goal of the season.
Sutton showed great character to come from behind and win this match. They can now take this positivity into their next game when they travel to OJM Black Country for a Midweek Floodlit Cup match on Tuesday 10th October kick off 7.45pm.
Team: Sutton United
1. Mark Moore
2. Jonny Grigg – 58’ Lewan Tobin
3. Jake Murrell
4. Matt Bishop
5. Lewis James
6. Will Jones
7. Sef Semlali – 80’ Kye Billingham-Belle
8. Tom Massey (c)
9. Kieran McConville – 58’ Shane Smith
10. Joe Gildea
11. Sam Price – 67’ Ethan Hanks
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Matt Gough
Chris Bratt-Rose
Amelia Small
Derek Culling
Team: Coton Green
1. Duncan Van Den Top
2. Remi Bell – 67’ Tyrike Richards-Burke
3. Sahel Yessen
4. Shiekh Mutarr Barrow – 19’ Ethan Richardson
5. Matthew O’Beirne (c)
6. Brad Gregory
7. Corey Powell
8. Callum Thorpe
9. Kyle Crawford – 87’ Alex Mane Intchasso
10. Stuart Hendrie
11. Leyton Hines
Management/Assistants:
Russell Boswell-Munday
Tom Reece
Chris Dolmand
Madison Jordan
Match Officials: Ryan Price, Mohammed Ahsan, Stuart Betteridge
| Sutton United | Statistics | Coton Green |
| 4 | Goals | 3 |
| 12 | Attempts | 11 |
| 8 | Attempts on Target | 7 |
| 49% | Possession | 51% |
| 8 | Corners | 6 |
| 8 | Fouls Committed | 8 |
| 4 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Opp MOTM |
| Joe Gildea | 12 | 11 | 2 | 3 |
| Leyton Hines | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
| Sef Semlali | 12 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Sam Price | 7 | 2 | 3 | 0 |
| Tom Massey | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| Joe Delaney | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Jon Grigg | 13 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Shane Smith | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Matt Bishop | 7 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Brad Gregory | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Thomas Cullen | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Kieran McConville | 8 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Lewan Tobin | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kaine Donald | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Ryan Delport | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Will Buchanan | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Kye Billingham-Belle | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reiss Wagstaff | 12 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Lewis James | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Jake Murrell | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tion Pearce-Copeland | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Harrison Coe | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Mark Moore | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Will Jones | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ethan Hanks | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Remi Bell | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Sam Simmonds | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Daniel Cooper | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Louis Malin | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Hurrell | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 26 | 23 |