THREE AWAY GOALS SECURE CUP DELIGHT FOR SUTTON

BY ANDREW DELANEY

A first-half brace from Joe Delaney helped Sutton United through to the semi-final of the Saturday Vase in an entertaining 3-1 victory over Bolehall Swifts.

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The previous two league meetings between Bolehall and Sutton had produced eleven goals, with a dramatic 2-2 draw when they last met in October and early signs were that this one wouldn’t be short on thrills either, when three goals were scored in the opening twelve minutes.

United took the lead on six minutes when Josh Duggan’s free kick was played into Tom Massey on the edge of the penalty box; he fed Delaney on the right to whip in a low cross where Joe Gildea lunged for the ball at the near post under challenge from Bolehall’s captain Lewis Miller, and the ball flicked in past keeper Olly Doyle.

Kyle Adams responded for Swifts to bring the scores level on eleven minutes, with a composed finish into the bottom corner of the net, though much of the praise goes to Jake Allen for the through ball that opened up Sutton’s defence.

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Bolehall’s joy was short-lived as Sutton retook the lead within twenty-four seconds of the restart, when Gildea turned provider with a sweeping ball out to the right for Delaney to chest into his path and finish across Doyle.

Sutton were forced into an early change when defender Cormac Parize, who has only recently returned from injury, was forced off with a knee problem and replaced by Matt Hurrell.

United then gave themselves a two-goal cushion when Delaney’s in-swinging corner kick curled into the top of the goal, despite Doyle getting his fingertips to it.

Massey was also posing a threat up front for United and came close to scoring with a terrific shot from the right that had Doyle diving to tip behind and again an effort from distance that was well blocked by Liam Brehany.
Massey did not return to the field for the second half, adding himself to United’s growing injury list and was replaced by Remi Bell up front for Sutton, who immediately found himself in the action and was unlucky not to score when his close-range volley whizzed over the bar.

Sutton came close again with a slick move down the left flank before Delaney’s attempted lob over the keeper finished on the roof of the net.

The home side worked the ball well and crafted one of their best chances in the 60th minute when George Okoye shot from the right of goal, forcing a strong save from Reiss Wagstaff.

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However, hopes of another dramatic comeback for the Swifts fell apart in the 69th minute when keeper Doyle was dismissed after a handball outside his area. Substitute Taylor Fletcher took his place between the sticks and did exceptionally well to keep the score line down for the home side. He made a good save to deny Delaney his hat-trick and then his outstretched leg deflected Duggan’s late shot onto the post.

Sutton return to home soil next Saturday when they play host to Birmingham United in a 3pm league fixture.

Team: Sutton United
1. Reiss Wagstaff
2. Jake Murrell
3. Matty Lewis
4. Cormac Parize – Matt Hurrell 18’
5. Matt Bishop
6. Josh Duggan (c)
7. Jonny Grigg – Brad Gregory 81’
8. Kaine Donald – Pete Bannister 62’
9. Tom Massey – Remi Bell 45’
10. Joe Gildea – Andy Matthews 86’
11. Joe Delaney

Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Matt Gough
Chris Bratt-Rose
Louis Singh

Team: Knowle
1. Olly Doyle
2. Marcus Mollison – Ashley Brown 55’
3. Kieron Thompson
4. Liam Brehany – Taylor Fletcher 67’
5. Lewis Miller (c)
6. Joe Edwards – Samson Omotayo 86’
7. George Okoye
8. Diminic Lewis – Joel Hill 75’
9. Jordan Lewis – Connor Baikie 75’
10. Jake Allen
11. Kyle Adams

Management/Assistants:
Matt Minton
Matt Smith
Kane Darkes
Bex Mortiboys

Match Officials: Nathan Parry

Bolehall Swifts	Statistics	Sutton United
1	Goals	3
6	Attempts	17
4	Attempts on Target	9
58%	Possession	42%
2	Corners	5
9	Fouls Committed	13
0	Yellow Cards	1
1	Red Cards	0