Sutton Shine Through the Fog
Sutton United booked their place in the League Cup quarter finals with a
commanding 3-0 home win over Chelmsley Town on a foggy Tuesday night.
Goals from Oli Jeeves, Joe Delaney and Tom Massey ensured a comfortable passage into the last eight,
as Sutton also welcomed back Leyton Hines from injury with his first appearance since 7th October.
Despite difficult conditions, with fog lingering throughout the match, officials worked closely with both
teams to allow play to continue, with Sutton donning pink bibs over their green colours to aid visibility in
the second half.
Chelmsley threatened early, winning a corner inside the opening minute and Greg Lewis had to be alert
at his near post to smother the danger, but from then on it was largely one-way traffic, as Sutton pinned
Chelmsley back for much of the first half.
United were comfortable in possession with Lewis Hayden dictating play through the midfield, as the
home side created a steady stream of chances to keep Chelmsley keeper Connor Hill busy. Hill produced
an excellent early save to deny Oli Jeeves in the opening exchanges, before the striker later fired
narrowly wide after good work from Aidan Mee, who beat Hill to the ball to deliver a dangerous cross.
Sam Jeeves then went close, skimming a shot just past the post and moments later, Harry Howard teed
up Burgundy, whose effort from the edge of the area was well saved by Hill.
The breakthrough finally came in the 32nd minute, when Burgundy’s long throw was headed on by Matt
Bishop, allowing Oli Jeeves to react quickest and finish from close range at the back post.
Despite Sutton’s dominance, the score remained 1-0 at the break, with everything still to play for.
However, the hosts emerged for the second half with the same intensity and quickly doubled their
advantage. Just two minutes after the restart, Delaney found himself unmarked in front of goal and
nodded home Burgundy’s corner to open his account for the season.
Chelmsley battled hard defensively, with Joshua Wykes and Charlie Noakes making crucial blocks to
deny both Burgundy and Hines. And as Sutton continued to push, one of their best chances of the
evening fell to young full-back James Gallagher, who came agonisingly close to his first senior goal with
a volley that flew just over the crossbar at the back post.
Lewis endured a relatively quiet night in the Sutton goal, though he was called into action in the 63rd
minute, producing an important save to deny Ethan Richardson’s powerful effort from the right of the
area.
Sutton’s pressure was finally rewarded again in the 81st minute, when Dylan Green’s cross was only
partially cleared by Ashon Wallace-Agunsoye, falling to Massey who smashed home an emphatic finish
for this sixth goal of the season.
The result sees United advance to the quarter finals, where they will face Studley in the new year.
Attention now turns to league action with Sutton hosting Birstall United on Saturday 20th December in
their third consecutive home fixture, kick off 3pm.
Team: Sutton United
- Greg Lewis
- Aidan Mee
- Joel Newman – 59’ James Gallagher
- Matt Bishop (c)
- Lewis Wall
- Lewis Hayden
- Ollie Burgundy – 71’ Tom Massey
- Sam Jeeves
- Oli Jeeves – 71’ Joe Gildea
- Harry Howard – 55’ Dylan Green
- Joe Delaney – 59’ Leyton Hines
Management/Assistants:
Liam Burke
Richard Heath
Aidan Jeynes
Marcus Davies
Evija Stauga
Derek Culling
Team: Chelmsley Town
- Connor Hill
- Joseph McCreath- 35’ James McGrane
- Joshua Wykes – 66’ Cheirry Barry
- Charlie Noakes
- Daniel Scott-Taggart
- Barry Fitzharris (c)
- Ethan Richardson
- Liam McCullagh – 74’ Deandre Davis
- Harry Jackson
- Harry Jennings – 59’ Ashon Wallace-Agunsoye
- Dante Hesson
Unused Sub: Peter Maguire
Management/Assistants:
Steven Solomon
Gary Danks
Kevin Wagstaff
Ryan Kimberley
Match Officials: James Strumidlo, Steven White, David Badger