Fast Start Fires Sutton to Five-Star Win
Sutton United secured a third-place finish in MFL Division One with a stunning first half display that resulted in a commanding victory away at Saffron Dynamo.
The Greens stormed into a three-goal lead inside the opening ten minutes and were four goals up by the break with a dominant attacking performance.
It took just two minutes for Sutton to take the lead, when a well-timed clearance from Tion Pearce was picked up by Jay Clement, who cleverly brought the ball under control before drilling a precise low effort into the bottom corner from distance.
Clement doubled his tally soon after, when Lewis Hayden’s cross was met by Joe Gildea in the box, and with his back to goal, it was left to Clement to take the shot from six yards, whipping the ball into the far side of the net.
Sutton’s relentless high press led to a third shortly after, when Hayden was again instrumental, winning possession high up the pitch before squaring for Gildea to tap home from close range.
Gildea almost added another moments later, unleashing a powerful effort from the right of goal that forced an outstanding near-post save from Dynamo goalkeeper, Tyler Weeks.
The Greens continued to apply the pressure, with Red Simmons causing problems down the left, and when his cross found Tom Massey in the box, his effort spun wide of the target.
The fourth goal came in the 23rd minute, as Ryan Nesbitt delivered an excellent cross for Gildea, who fired in a clinical finish to register his second of the match and 26th goal of the season.
United almost extended their lead further before the break, with Massey’s header in the 26th minute drawing another superb save from Weeks.
To their credit, Saffron Dynamo, who made three changes at the break, emerged with purpose in the second half. Nevertheless, Sutton remained composed and continued to create the better chances.
Sam Jeeves saw a free-kick blocked by the Dynamo wall, before Clement volleyed the rebound narrowly wide from 18-yards. And when a corner was initially headed clear by the hosts, it was Sutton centre back Matt Bishop who picked up the ball to deliver a teasing cross that Pearce sent just off target.
Sutton eventually added a fifth in the 85th minute, when substitute Ethan Clarke opened his account for the club with a fine individual goal, as he closed down the goalkeeper outside his area, winning possession, and calmly finishing into an empty net.
This was an assured and professional performance from Sutton, with five well-taken goals and another strong clean sheet. The only concern came late on when right-back Aidan Mee was forced off in the 79th minute with an ankle injury, though the hope is it proves minor ahead of the playoffs.
Before their playoff campaign begins, Sutton have one more league fixture when they host Leicester St Andrews at Coleshill Road Stadium on Saturday 18th April, with kick off at 3pm.
Team: Saffron Dynamo
1. Tyler Weeks
2. Ben White
3. Ben Blaze
4. Callum Briers – 46’ Ethan Maisto
5. Jack Blanksby
6. Joe Newman
7. Henry Golding
8. Najeem Oriola – 46’ Owen Bunting
9. Aaron Preston (c)
10. Stanley Rossell – 46’ Junior Munemo
11. Hamza Siddique – 67’ Finn White
Unused Sub: Joe Wynder
Management/Assistants:
Tony Maisto, Jacob Straw
James Simmons, Charlotte Jefferies
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Aidan Mee – 79’
3. Red Simmons
4. Matt Bishop – 76’ James Gallagher
5. Tion Pearce
6. Ben George – 55’ Sam Jeeves
7. Jay Clement
8. Lewis Hayden – 63’ Leyton Hines
9. Joe Gildea – 57’ Ethan Clarke
10. Tom Massey (c)
11. Ryan Nesbitt – 63’ Dylan Green
Management/Assistants:
Neil Tooth, Phil Male
Carlos De Azevedo, Aidan Jeynes
Evija Stauga
Match Officials: Michael Westmacott, Michael Mulryan, Abdullateef Amusa
| Saffron Dynamo | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 0 | Goals | 5 |
| 1 | Attempts | 15 |
| 0 | Attempts on Target | 9 |
| 36% | Possession | 64% |
| 4 | Corners | 2 |
| 6 | Fouls Committed | 5 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Tyler Weeks | Opp Man of the Match | |
| Club Man of the Match | Jay Clement |