Single goal sinks Sutton
Andrew Delaney27 Aug – 22:47
Kamil Solecki scored the only goal that gave Smethwick Rangers a narrow victory over Sutton United.
Substitute Solecki found the far corner of the net in the 77th minute in a tight match that generated very few meaningful openings on goal for either team.
Sutton made six changes to the starting lineup from the midweek win, with Leyton Hines notably suffering a cracked rib last time out. There was also a First Team debut for goalkeeper Charlie Woodroofe.
The hosts had a strong opening ten minutes and should have taken the lead through Oliver Jeeves, brother to Sutton’s Sam Jeeves, when he struck wide of an open net. The Smethwick forward got another chance shortly after when he was played through the centre, but his final shot went wide under the challenge of Sutton’s Tion Pearce.
United settled into what was then a very even match with scant opportunities for either side. Sutton’s Hayden Froggatt did come within inches of scoring but could not make contact with Joe Gildea’s ball across goal.
United’s best chance came in the 33rd minute when Gildea’s header from a set piece was well saved by Andreas Spandou at his post.
It was much the same for the second half, the difference being that Rangers made the most of their one effort on goal to take the lead in the 77th minute. Solecki was played through on the left and he charged into the penalty area to find the bottom corner.
For Sutton, Gildea had a shot on the turn that Spanou gathered, and Scott Hardy came close with a shot from the right that went into the side netting.
Abdul Touaiti volleyed an effort late on which Spandou caught, but there was little else created to trouble the Smethwick keeper and the hosts finished with all three points.
Next up for Sutton is a trip to Bilston Town on Bank Holiday Monday with a 3pm kick off.
Team: Smethwick Rangers
1. Andreas Spanou
2. Red Simmons – 88’ Harry Ratcliffe
3. Jake Wilkes
4. Pierre Phillips
5. Charlie Aston
6. Jake Lamb
7. Danny Wood
8. Jake Allen (c)
9. Oliver Jeeves – 69’ Sam Price
10. Callum North – 59’ Kamil Solecki
11. Dylan Green – 59’ Lucas Edwards
Management/Assistants:
Sam Heath
Francino Francis
Team: Sutton United
1. Charlie Woodroofe
2. Kye Billingham-Belle
3. Scott Hardy
4. George Ray
5. Tion Pearce
6. Jon Grigg – 55’ Robbie Brown
7. Hayden Froggatt – 69’ Jake Murrell
8. Sam Jeeves – 82’ Aaron Cameron
9. Joe Gildea
10. Tom Massey (c) – 55’ Abdul Touaiti
11. Jack Whelan – 79’ Sef Semlali
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Adam Watson
Bobby Brittan
Derek Culling
Match Officials: Guy Thrower, Philip Magness, Benjamin Kular
| Smethwick Rangers | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 1 | Goals | 0 |
| 7 | Attempts | 9 |
| 2 | Attempts on Target | 5 |
| 33% | Possession | 67% |
| 5 | Corners | 6 |
| 8 | Fouls Committed | 14 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists | Opp MOTM |
| Joe Gildea | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Hayden Froggatt | 7 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| George Ray | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Jack Whelan | 5 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Ronan Sheehan | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| Sam Jeeves | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Sef Semlali | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Abdul Touaiti | 7 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Kye Billingham-Belle | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Leyton Hines | 5 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jon Grigg | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Robbie Brown | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tion Pearce | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Massey | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Connor Byrne | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Matt Bishop | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Scott Hardy | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aaron Cameron | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Gabe Newey | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Louis Malin | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Aidan Jeynes | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Busst | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Charlie Woodroofe | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Zach Binns | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 13 | 11 |