Sutton triumph at Tividale
Sutton swept aside higher opposition as they beat MFL Premier side Tividale 2-0 to book their place in the third round of the FA Vase.
Tividale are the third Step 5 team that Sutton have beaten in the cups this season, with two coming in the FA Vase following their progression past Wulfunians in Round One.
Sutton made two changes to their starting line up with Zach Binns and Tion Pearce returning to the back line.
It was an entertaining first half as opportunities fell to both sides. Tividale tested Greg Lewis in the opening minute of the match, with the Sutton goalkeeper making a spectacular save to deny Jordan Sangha from distance.
United then had the better of the chances, as Reece Gibson came close with a lob over goalkeeper, Ethan Hawkes, that landed on the top of the net and Joe Gildea’s shot from the left of goal had Hawkes beaten, but not Harry Higginson, who was back to clear for Tividale.
Gildea then had a free kick at the edge of the penalty area that soared inches wide, and the Sutton striker came close moments later, when he did well to work himself some space for a shot that again skimmed wide of the far post.
The hosts grew into the half and saw Ryan Piggott attempt an overhead kick that went wide of the mark, and when Aon Mohammed Abbas made a strong sprint down the left flank before crossing for Jason Wood to shoot, Lewis made an excellent diving save to tip the ball behind.
Sutton crafted another great chance on the half hour mark, as Scott Hardy shrugged off his markers to play the ball through for Oli Jeeves, and his shot across the goal fizzed narrowly wide.
The two Sutton players combined again for the opening goal early in the second half, as Jeeves beat the keeper at his near post with a sublime finish, after Hardy had fed him through in the penalty box.
United doubled their lead in the 65th minute, when Hardy delivered a free kick from the left flank and Abdul Touaiti headed the ball on for Gildea to find the net with a clinical finish from six yards. The opposition felt the striker was offside, however the goal stood, much to the enjoyment of United’s fantastic away support.
Hayden Froggatt was then denied a goal as Hawkes dived to save at his near post, and the Sutton striker came close again when his shot from the edge of the penalty box rose over the cross bar.
Sutton looked in control for the remainder of the match. Tividale’s best chance came in added time, when an effort from the edge of the penalty area bounced off the underside of the crossbar, and then the rebound was blocked in front of goal by the ever-reliable Matt Bishop.
Sutton can now look forward to an away trip in Round Three, at fellow Step 6 side, Winsford United in Cheshire, on Saturday 7th December. But first they must turn their attention back to the league, with a tough away fixture on Saturday 16th November against Cradley Town.
Team: Tividale
1. Ethan Hawkes
2. Tom Rann – 77’ Jamie Hunt
3. Sam Bratt-Wyton (c)
4. Raheen Akhtar – 72’ Lewis Derrick
5. Callum Lloyd
6. Harry Higginson
7. Luke Postle – 57’ Ezekiel Agyemang
8. Jason Wood
9. Ryan Piggott
10. Jordan Sangha
11. Aon Mohammed Abbas – 81’ Mario Mendez
Bench Unused: Nashawn Blake
Management/Assistants:
Phil Rann
Chris Perry
Simon Worton
Steve Cowdell
Ollie Hartland
Corine Willis
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Jon Grigg
3. Zach Binns
4. Matt Bishop
5. Tion Pearce
6. Sam Simmonds – 63’ Jake Murrell
7. Tom Massey (c) – 63’ Abdul Touaiti
8. Scott Hardy – 84’ Reiss Hick
9. Reece Gibson – 63’ Hayden Froggatt
10. Joe Gildea
11. Oli Jeeves – 84’ Sef Semlali
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Adam Watson
Chris Bratt-Rose
Bobby Brittan
Amelia Small
Match Officials: Simon King, Lee Whitehead, Simon Gudger