STALEMATE WITH SWIFTS
BY ANDREW DELANEYSHARE
It was a frustrating day for Sutton United 1st Team as they had to settle for a point on the road against a spirited Bolehall Swifts.
A disappointing first forty-five minutes by Sutton saw Bolehall take the lead from a set-piece. An improved second half resulted in goals from Shane Smith and Tom Massey that looked to be sending Sutton home with the win, only for the home side to pinch a draw two minutes from time.
The Swifts had a game plan to keep their visitors at bay and it succeeded for much of the match as Sutton struggled to find their usual form. And in the 24th minute, Bolehall took the lead from a corner-kick that their captain, Lewis Miller, headed high into the back of Sutton’s net.
In a lackluster first half, Sutton’s only real sight of goal came on the half hour mark, when Smith’s thumping effort from the right was deflected behind and the resulting corner kick was blocked on the line to deny Chad Duggan his fourth goal in three games.
Sutton did pick up the tempo for the second half and believed they had pulled level in the 50th minute when Josh Duggan’s header was cleared by Bolehall from behind their goal line. Instead, United had to patiently search for a comeback and finally pulled level in the 70th minute, when Massey’s through ball cleverly opened-up a stubborn Swifts defence, and Smith skillfully beat the keeper, Oliver Doyle, at his near post. Unfortunately for Sutton, the sprint caused the lively forward to pull up with a recurrent hamstring problem that would bring his afternoon to an end.
Then in the 75th minute, defender Kaine Donald made a positive run forward and his effort on goal had Doyle diving to push the ball behind. Massey came close to scoring from the resultant corner kick as Bolehall made another goal line clearance.
And just three minutes later, Massey capitalised on a similar opportunity, as Jonny Grigg’s corner kick was met by Chad Duggan, forcing Doyle into a save, and Massey made no mistake with the rebound to fire Sutton ahead.
After grinding out a lead, it looked like the division two leaders would see out the match, but Bolehall had other ideas as they caught Sutton out with only two minutes remaining and Joshua Hunt’s perfect cross to the back post provided substitute Marcus Mollinson with a clinical finish to give the home side a share of the points.
Whilst Sutton were never at their best today, a positive point keeps them unbeaten in their last nine matches. They now take a break from league action for next Saturday’s away fixture at AFC Birmingham in the first round of the Les James Challenge Cup.
| Bolehall Swifts | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 2 | Goals | 2 |
| 6 | Attempts | 13 |
| 4 | Attempts on Target | 9 |
| 3 | Corners | 6 |
| 11 | Fouls Committed | 7 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Man of the Match | Kaine Donald |