Jeeves Double Does Damage
Sutton United booked their place in the semi-finals of the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup with a convincing 4-0 home victory over Kenilworth Wardens.
Despite making eight changes to the starting line-up, Sutton produced a dominant display against their lower-league visitors, with an impressive first half brace from Oli Jeeves, followed by second half goals from Lewis Wall and Dylan Green that sealed a comprehensive win.
There were returns at the back for Harry Manton and Jake Lamb, while Lewis Wall captained the side and led by example with a goal and an assist. The evening also marked the impressive senior debuts for two of Sutton’s future prospects, Under-18s goalkeeper Joe Bisseker and Under-21s forward Tyrese Weekes.
Bisseker was immediately called into action as Kenilworth made a blistering start, threatening twice within the opening two minutes. Ben Edmunds first won possession and fired narrowly wide of the far post, before a dangerous move down the right ended with Solomon Bloomer forcing a smart save from the young goalkeeper.
Sutton soon settled and began to dominate possession. The breakthrough came when Manton cut inside his defender and delivered a superb right-footed cross, met by Oli Jeeves who powered a terrific header into the net.
Jeeves doubled both his and Sutton’s tally in the 31st minute with a moment of real quality, unleashing a stunning 30-yard strike that flew into the top corner beyond Kenilworth goalkeeper, Thomas Day. The forward came agonisingly close to completing a first-half hat-trick soon after, only to be denied by an excellent save from Day, who tipped the striker’s effort over the bar.
United continued to press, with chances falling to Wall and Aiden Mee, and two big shouts for penalties, with a challenge on Oli Jeeves, and later for a handball that the referee waved away.
Despite Sutton’s control, the Wardens remained dangerous on the counter, and just before the interval, Jack Thomas surged into the penalty area forcing another superb reaction save from Bisseker, who stood tall to preserve the two-goal advantage at half-time.
The second half followed a similar pattern. Dylan Green entered the action and was quickly involved, dragging one effort wide and seeing two further shots blocked by resolute Wardens defending. Jake Lamb headed wide from a corner, while Joe Delaney came inches away from scoring with a 22-yard strike that clipped the crossbar.
Kenilworth had their chances, as Edmunds attempted to catch Bisseker off his line with a long-range effort, but the debutant was equal to it, and soon after, Edmunds drove through on goal only for Leyton Hines to sprint back and produce a superb last-ditch challenge, with Tion Pearce completing the clearance.
Sutton’s third goal arrived in the 69th minute when Delaney’s corner was met by Wall, who headed in at the near post for his fifth goal of the season.
Chances kept coming for the hosts, as Weekes went close to a memorable first senior goal but was denied by another outstanding save from Day, and Ollie Burgundy fired narrowly wide from distance, while Hines flicked an effort just past the post.
At the other end, Thomas cut inside and whipped a 20-yard effort towards goal with ten minutes remaining, but Bisseker was again alert, diving to make the save.
The scoring was completed in added time when Hines threaded a perfectly weighted pass through to Green, who showed great composure to go one-on-one and calmly slot home United’s fourth.
The result sees Sutton march confidently into the semi-finals and sets them up nicely ahead of their final match of 2025 with a Boxing Day trip to Chelmsley Town, kick off at 3pm.
Team: Sutton United
1. Joe Bisseker
2. Tion Pearce
3. Harry Manton
4. Matt Bishop – 46’ Dylan Green
5. Jake Lamb
6. Lewis Wall (c) – 70’ Ollie Burgundy
7. Leyton Hines
8. Sam Jeeves – 62’ Joe Delaney
9. Oli Jeeves – 68’ Tyrese Weekes
10. Aidan Mee
11. Harry Howard – 62’ Tom Massey
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath, Liam Burke, Marcus Davies, Evija Stauga, Derrick Culling
Team: Kenilworth Wardens
1. Thomas Day
16. Hayden Twycross
5. Alex Cockburn
2. Alexander Bradley – 40’ Diarmuid Winston
3. Samual Broad
6. James Clay
11. Jack Thomas – 84’ Dylan Wright
8. Adam Hart – 58’ Harrison Wright
7. Jack Boden – 79’ Dan Twigger
10. Colomon Bloomer (c) – 71’ George Ferridge
9. Ben Edmunds
Management/Assistants:
George Ferridge
Match Officials: Tom Kidd, Mr Jarrett, Mr Bell
| Sutton United | Statistics | Kenilworth Wardens |
| 4 | Goals | 0 |
| 28 | Attempts | 8 |
| 12 | Attempts on Target | 5 |
| 80% | Possession | 20% |
| 14 | Corners | 1 |
| 5 | Fouls Committed | 6 |
| 2 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Oli Jeeves | Club Man of the Match |