Sutton score six
Sutton United put six past Allexton & New Parks to record their third consecutive home win that sees them climb up to ninth in MFL 1.
Jonny Grigg volleyed home Sutton’s opening goal midway through the first half, before a mistake at the back allowed Allexton to equalise through Tawanda Mangondoza, leaving the teams level at the break.
United were clinical in the second half with a brace from Joe Gildea and goals from Harry Howard, Hayden Froggatt and Matt Bishop to wrap up another three points at Coleshill Road Stadium.
Sutton made five changes from their win on Wednesday with starts for Callum Cook, Sef Semlali, Leyton Hines, Jack Skinner and Grigg, and they began the match lively with an early chance at goal falling to Hines, but Austin Parish did exceptionally well to save with an outstretched leg.
Parish made another great save in the 15th minute when he tipped over a twenty-yard free kick from Gildea that was heading into the top corner.
Hines was involved in the opening goal when he drove a shot from the left that Parish looked to have got a touch on, before Grigg volleyed into the roof of the net at the back post to give United the lead.
Sutton continued to create chances, with Zach Binns dribbling his way to the edge of the penalty area before striking low and narrowly wide of the far post, and Gildea came close again with a header from a corner kick.
However, it was the visitors who got themselves back into the game when Mangondoza latched onto a loose back pass to round Greg Lewis and squeeze the ball into the net and level the scoreline.
Gildea was a constant threat up front for Sutton and early in the second half the striker was brought down in the penalty box, before stepping up to despatch the spot kick with precision and regain the lead for the hosts.
Harry Howard came off the bench to score Sutton’s third with an exquisite strike in off the post for his second of the season.
Just five minutes later, Sutton executed a well-worked team goal that ended with a pinpoint cross from Sam Jeeves to pick out Gildea in the box, who swept home from ten yards.
Sutton worked hard to win the ball back when out of possession and when Gildea dispossessed Ryan Charles in the 79th minute, it allowed Oli Jeeves to drive towards goal before releasing Hayden Froggatt to his right, who chipped superbly over the keeper to score Sutton’s fifth goal.
Allexton’s best chance on goal fell to Daniel Yadav who curled a shot from the edge of the penalty area just wide of the target.
Nevertheless, it was Sutton who were creating most of the chances in front of goal and they almost had another when Oli Jeeves struck the post from close range after some good work from Abdul Touaiti on the right.
Sutton did find the net again as the match went into added time, when Matt Bishop netted his fifth of the season with a super half volley at the back post off Sam Jeeves’ set piece delivery.
Next up for Sutton is a midweek trip to Stapenhill for the semi final of the League Cup on Tuesday 18th February, kick off 7.45pm.
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Tion Pearce
3. Zach Binns
4. Matt Bishop (c)
5. Callum Cook – 46’ Abdul Touaiti
6. Sam Jeeves
7. Jonny Grigg – 77’ Oli Jeeves
8. Sef Semlali – 61’ Tom Massey
9. Leyon Hines – 65’ Harry Howard
10. Joe Gildea
11. Jack Skinner – 61’ Hayden Froggatt
Management/Assistants:
Liam Burke, Richard Heath
Adam Watson, Chris Bratt-Rose
Bobby Brittan, Derek Culling
Amelia Small
Team: Allexton & New Parks
1. Austin Parish
2. Ashley Jones
3. Elhakim Opoku
4. Lloyd Nelson Jr
5. Ryan Charles
6. Harrison Stuart
8. Brandon Jarratt – 56’ Daniel Yadav
9. Madison Murrell – 76’ Nickson Kwakye
10. Tawanda Mangondoza
11. Cain Beckett
14. Orrin Carter-Fel
Management/Assistants:
Ryan Hancock
Match Officials: Klajdi Shkurta, Mark Chester, Steven Chappell