Stunner from Jeeves helps Sutton to impressive win
Andrew Delaney27 Aug – 22:42
Sutton United claimed their second win of the season with a resounding victory at winless AFC Bridgnorth.
Sam Jeeves opened his account for Sutton with a fantastic 25-yard strike late on, after Hayden Froggatt and George Ray each netted their second goals of the season in a positive first half. Sef Semlali came off the bench to add a fourth in injury time, securing seven points for United in their last three games.
Sutton made four changes to their starting line-up, which included an impressive First Team debut for under-21 goalkeeper Gabriel Newey, who showed a confident command of his area to help United to their second clean sheet of the campaign.
Leading the line for Sutton, the hard-working Froggatt got them off to a great start when he slotted home the perfect cross from Abdul Touaiti in the sixth minute.
Sutton doubled their lead in the 25th minute when defender Ray scored his second goal in two matches with a header off Jeeves’ corner kick.
United pressed their advantage as Froggatt almost had another just two minutes later when his flick in front of goal was well saved by Bridgnorth goalkeeper Dan Price, and Jack Whelan came close with a strong run into the penalty area before striking the ball into the side netting from a tight angle.
Price made another good save with an outstretched leg to deny Froggatt, after he was played through the centre by Ray in the 40th minute.
For Bridgnorth, their number nine missed two great opportunities to score in the first half. First, he blazed over when finding himself free in the box after Sutton lost possession, and just before the break he beat the offside, only for his effort at goal to land comfortably in the hands of Newey.
Sutton continued to have the better of the chances in the second half, with Whelan twice coming close with efforts across goal that narrowly missed the target and substitute Joe Gildea caused problems for the Bridgnorth defence when he came on, his closest effort denied by a fantastic save from Price.
Then in the 87th minute, Jeeves scored an impressive first goal for the club when he won the ball in the centre of the pitch, carried goalwards and unleashed a screamer from 25 yards that gave the keeper no chance.
There was still time for Sutton to add a fourth and this one was a great team goal starting from the keeper, with Semlali involved in the build-up before sprinting into the box to pick up a lovely lay off from Gildea and net his first goal of the season.
Both Gildea and Tom Massey came close in added time as United finished strongly to take another three points on the road.
Next up is a local derby for Sutton as they play host to Paget Rangers on Tuesday 20th August at Coleshill Road with a 7.45pm kick off.
Team: AFC Bridgnorth
1. Dan Price
2. Abdulrahman Saeeo
3. Akio Ellis (c)
4. Ahmed Suleiman
5. Josh Smith
6. Max Morris – 85’ Anil Kumar
7. Kaine Butler – 87’ David Ahmed
8. Collins Kalindu – 59’ Mico Maningo
9. Tristan Agnello – 70’ Duval Donaldson
10. Ken Kaninda
11. Hassan Said – 70’ Cruz Williamson
Management/Assistants:
Paul Jones
Jude Jones
Luke Court
Team: Sutton United
1. Gabe Newey
2. Kye Billingham-Belle – 66’ Scott Hardy
3. George Ray – 56’ Robbie Brown
4. Matt Bishop (c)
5. Tion Pearce
6. Jon Grigg
7. Leyton Hines
8. Sam Jeeves
9. Hayden Froggatt – 66’ Joe Gildea
10. Abdul Touaiti – 72’ Sef Semlali
11. Jack Whelan – 78’ Tom Massey
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Adam Watson
Bobby Brittan
Derek Culling
Match Officials: Liam Teraud, Robert Humphries, Arron Worrall
| AFC Bridgnorth | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 0 | Goals | 4 |
| 7 | Attempts | 14 |
| 2 | Attempts on Target | 10 |
| 52% | Possession | 48% |
| 5 | Corners | 3 |
| 8 | Fouls Committed | 9 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Opp MOTM |
| Joe Gildea | 5 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| George Ray | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Hayden Froggatt | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Jack Whelan | 4 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Ronan Sheehan | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Sam Jeeves | 4 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Sef Semlali | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Abdul Touaiti | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kye Billingham-Belle | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Jon Grigg | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robbie Brown | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tion Pearce | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Massey | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connor Byrne | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leyton Hines | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Bishop | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Louis Malin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Hardy | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aaron Cameron | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aidan Jeynes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Busst | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabe Newey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 11 | 9 |