Single goal ends Sutton’s cup hopes
Sutton United were knocked out of the League Cup by fellow MFL One side Stapenhill with a Jack Henchliffe second-half goal at Maple Grove.
Sutton had made four changes from Saturday’s win, with Sam Simmonds, Tom Massey, Oli Jeeves and Hayden Froggatt all starting.
It had been a very tight game in the previous meeting at Maple Grove between these two sides back in November, and it proved to be much the same this time. Sutton had a couple of early chances with Joe Gildea in the thick of the action; first trying his luck from distance, before shooting wide from a tight angle on the left.
Stapenhill then came close with a Jake Meakin effort from just inside the penalty area that was gathered by Greg Lewis at his near post, and shortly after, Lewis Campbell’s shot from the left of goal was well stopped by Lewis before Jonny Grigg’s excellent challenge prevented any chance on the rebound.
It was Sutton who then created the better of the opportunities, with the best chance falling to Oli Jeeves who headed onto the cross bar off a whipped cross from the left wing by Zach Binns. They had another great chance in the 22nd minute, when Sam Jeeves looped the perfect pass over the Stapenhill defence for Hayden Froggatt to run onto, before his final shot was scooped wide of the target.
Harry Lansdowne got back well for the Swans when he made an excellent block to deny Gildea from eight yards and as Sutton pressed towards the end of the first half, Matt Bishop fired an effort over the bar from the right of goal.
However, the chances dried up for Sutton in the second half. Gildea drove a shot from twenty yards that skimmed wide of the post in 47th minute, but then the next half an hour saw very little created in front of goal for either team. Sutton were pressing forward but finding it difficult to break down a stubborn Stapenhill defence on a very heavy pitch.
It was, in the end, the hosts who broke the deadlock in the 76th minute, when Henchcliffe finished from six yards after James Frost had found his way to the byline before cutting the ball back.
United introduced some fresh legs as they went in search of an equaliser, and they had a big shout for a penalty when Harry Lansdowne looked to have handled the ball off a Leyton Hines delivery into the box, but it wasn’t enough for the officials.
Lewis then had to make a double save for Sutton when a Stapenhill goal kick bounced favourably for their attackers: a shot from distance was parried by Lewis, before he saved the rebound from Frost.
Whilst Suttons fantastic travelling supporters never stopped singing, things didn’t really click on the pitch for the Greens, and it was The Swans who held on to take the win that sees them into the May final.
Sutton must now lift themselves for a trip to league leaders Nuneaton Town on Saturday 22nd February, 3pm kick off.
Team: Stapenhill
1. Paul Hollis
2. James Frost
4. Jake Meakin
5. Harry Landsdowne
6. Josh Watson
7. Cameron Steele – 84’ Sam Bates
8. Zachary Hill
9. Louis Briscoe
10. Jack Henchcliffe
11. Lewis Campbell (c) – 77’ Brad Walsh
12. Cade Chadwick
Unused Sub: Tommy Large, Connor Richins,
Brad Wright
Management/Assistants:
Louis Briscoe, Stuart Beckett
Andrew Beeston, Bob Elliott
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Jon Grigg – 84’ Sef Semlali
3. Zach Binns
4. Matt Bishop
5. Tion Pearce
6. Sam Simmonds – 77’ Harry Howard
7. Tom Massey (c) – 77’ Abdul Touaiti
8. Sam Jeeves
9. Oli Jeeves – 64’ Leyton Hines
10. Joe Gildea
11. Hayden Froggatt
Unused Sub: Reiss Hick
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath, Liam Burke
Adam Watson, Chris Bratt-Rose
Bobby Brittan, Amelia Small, Derek Culling
Match Officials: Josh Warren, Kingston Taylor-Avery, Connor Brooks