HARD-FOUGHT WIN AT HAMPTON
BY ANDREW DELANEY
Sutton’s hard-fought victory away at Hampton FC keeps the pressure on the hunting pack in the fight for promotion at the top of the MFL2.
With both AFC Coventry and Knowle winning midweek matches ahead of this fixture, it was imperative for Sutton to take all three points at this 6.20pm kick off on a blustery evening at The Boggery, and they did just that thanks to second half goals from Freddie Cockerell and Remi Bell.
There was also a composed debut for keeper Elliott Smail as the team claimed an important clean sheet, particularly with such a narrow lead until Bell made it safe in added time.
Cockerill had the first sight of goal for United in the fourth minute, when he headed over a Joe Gildea cross, and then he came closer in the 20th minute when he struck the woodwork with an effort through a crowded penalty box.
Jonny Grigg, who was superb in midfield for United, saw a shot from distance whizz wide of the target and the powerful Gildea also pulled the trigger from twenty yards only to see his effort fly narrowly wide of the far post.
For Hampton, Luke Benham curled a free kick over the crossbar and striker Hayden Froggatt’s shot from twenty yards had Smail down well to push behind.
However, the best chance of the half fell to Sutton just before the break and somehow Hampton kept the ball out of the net thanks to their keeper, Matt Allely who made three fantastic saves: first to deny Sef Semlali’s long range shot; then blocking Cockerell’s attempt at the rebound; before pushing Grigg’s overhead kick onto the crossbar.
Sutton were moving the ball quicker in the second half and as a result they took the lead in the 56th minute with a precise finish from Cockerell after a neat interchange with Aaron Evans.
As the match progressed, there was very little to trouble either keeper, with Sutton enjoying more possession without causing many problems for the home side. The substitutions injected some energy for the last fifteen minutes and Bell was unlucky when he tried to lift his effort over Allely, having raced in behind Hampton’s defence.
And for the home side, most of their opportunities came from set-pieces, but when Matt Garbett found space on the left to run at goal, Sutton’s Matt Hurrell made a well-timed challenge on the edge of the penalty area to break the attack.
And as the match edged into added time, Sutton produced a moment of class to extend their lead and make sure of the three points. Delaney played a short free kick to Leyton Hines, before receiving the ball back to square for Bell, who swept into the net at the near post.
Thanks Sutton, for winning on my birthday!! Up next, is another away trip to Alcester on Saturday 22nd April, 3pm kick off.
Team: Hampton
1. Matt Allely
2. Brad Hall
3. Dom Bryan
4. Ash Maddocks
5. James Morris (c)
6. Luke Benham
7. Ciaran Connaire
8. Joel Fletcher – Marcus Brookes 78’
9. Hayden Froggatt – Ciaran Lawless 69’
10. Matt Garbett
11. Cameron Seivwright
Management/Assistants:
Dean Guest, Spencer McArdle, Jason Albini
Team: Sutton United
1. Elliott Smail
2. Lewis James – Will Jones 62’
3. Jake Murrell
4. Matt Hurrell – Brad Gregory 75’
5. Finlay Balantyne
6. Jonny Grigg
7. Aaron Evans
8. Sef Semlali (c) – James Stretton 75’
9. Freddie Cockerell – Remi Bell 81’
10. Joe Gildea – Leyton Hines 68’
20. Joe Delaney
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath, Matt Gough, Derek Cullen
Match Officials: David Badger, Ryan Byrne, Donald Williams
| Hampton | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 0 | Goals | 2 |
| 4 | Attempts | 11 |
| 3 | Attempts on Target | 5 |
| 22% | Possession | 78% |
| 7 | Corners | 2 |
| 11 | Fouls Committed | 8 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |