Defeat at league leaders
Sutton United suffered a 6-2 defeat away at MFL 1 leaders Nuneaton Town.
Reiss Hick, Abdul Touaiti and Sef Semlali returned to the starting line-up for Sutton, who travelled to a Nuneaton side unbeaten in their last thirteen matches.
The result was a little harsh on Sutton who competed hard for much of the match, however, there is no denying the league leaders had that edge of quality, confidence and coupled with some clinical finishing they produced six goals, to the joy of their near 500 supporters.
Sutton began brightly, moving the ball around well, but it was Nuneaton who took the lead in the 11th minute, when Danico Johnson latched onto a ricochet that gave him space to drive into the penalty box and deliver a calm finish across Greg Lewis and into the bottom corner of the net.
It wasn’t long before the hosts had doubled their lead with a screamer from Aaron Williams. It came as a result of some good build up play before Williams thundered his shot in from 20 yards, for Nuneaton’s 100th goal of the season.
United pulled themselves back into the match in the 31st minute with a goal of exceptional quality from Sam Jeeves, who dribbled his way past five Nuneaton players before finding the bottom corner of the net from six yards.
The goal gave Sutton confidence, and they then had their best spell of the match, as a chance fell for Oli Jeeves in front of goal before Cody Mullan got back for Nuneaton to make the challenge, and when Zach Binns produced a fantastic run to the edge of the penalty box, there were three Nuneaton players back to block his shot at goal. Joe Gildea then saw an effort from eighteen yards skim narrowly wide of the post, and Abdul Touaiti drilled an effort just over the cross bar.
However, it was Nuneaton who scored again just before the break, with a goal from a set piece. When the delivery to the back post was headed back across goal, there were three Nuneaton players free to finish, as Stuart Hendrie got the final touch over the line.
Sutton made three changes for the start of the second half with Tom Massey, Leyton Hines and Jonny Grigg introduced, and they were so close to scoring a goal within a minute of taking to the field, as Hines struck the post after Massey’s driving run through the midfield.
Then Sutton conceded off another set piece, this time it was a misunderstanding between Oli Jeeves and Lewis, as the striker chested the ball into his own net.
United remained positive and responded with a goal just two minutes later, when Massey headed in from six yards off a Sam Jeeves free kick delivery to make it 4-2.
Nuneaton worked hard off the ball to close Sutton down, and they almost capitalised in the 55th minute when Mullan got through one-on-one with Lewis, but the Sutton goalkeeper did well to gather the strikers attempted chip.
The hosts fifth goal came in the 69th minute, with a ball over the top that drew Lewis off his line, but when substitute Justin Marsden won the ball, he then looked to have carried it too far wide only to somehow find the back of the net from an unbelievable angle.
A sixth goal completed Nuneaton’s win in the 83rd minute, with a cross from the left that James Harrison netted from six yards. And as this last goal went in, Matt Bishop pulled up for Sutton and had to come off leaving the Greens to finish the match with ten men, having used all their substitutions.
United return home next Saturday 1st March in a bid to return to winning ways when they host Wednesfield Community with a 3pm kick off.
Team: Nuneaton Town
1. Brandon Bache
2. Trevor Edwards
3. Callum Carsley – 88’ Jake Lamb
4. Corey Currithers (c)
5. Dominic Perkins
6. Loyiso Recci
7. Stuart Hendrie – 61’ James Spruce
8. Declan Somel – 68’ James Harrison
10. Cody Mullan – 81’ Callum Thorpe
11. Aaron Williams
20. Danico Johnson – 52’ Justin Marsden
Management/Assistants:
Darren Acton, Russell Boswell-Munday
Blake Reynolds, Jackson Acton
Dan Kemberley, Kevin Willden
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Tion Pearce
3. Zach Binns
4. Matt Bishop (c)
5. Reiss Hick – 46’ Jonny Grigg
6. Sam Jeeves
7. Abdul Touaiti – 46’ Tom Massey
8. Sef Semlali – 60’ Sam Simmonds
9. Hayden Froggatt – 46’ Leyton Hines
10. Joe Gildea
11. Oli Jeeves
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath, Liam Burke
Adam Watson, Chris Bratt-Rose
Amelia Small
Match Officials: Max Underwood, Kevin Carroll, Callum Finnegan