Sutton Hit Five to Reach Final
Sutton United booked their place in the MFL Division One play-off final in emphatic fashion, beating Heather St. John’s with a commanding 5-0 victory in front of a jubilant home crowd.
On a sun-soaked afternoon, Sutton delivered an assured performance to sign off their 2025/26 home campaign in style. Five different goal scorers found the net, underlining the confidence running through the side at a crucial stage of the season.
United looked determined from the start and took the lead in the 4th minute. Lewis Hayden’s inviting pass forward saw Tom Massey pull wide to deliver a terrific cross to the back post, where Jay Clement headed home his fourth goal for the Greens to give United the perfect start.
The Saints went looking for an equaliser and came close through Sam Grouse, who volleyed wide from a dangerous Harry Stewart delivery.
However, Sutton always looked the more threatening side, and Clement nearly doubled his tally with a rasping effort from the edge of the area that skimmed just past the post.
The visitors began the second half with intent and missed a golden opportunity to level the scores when captain Kian Taylor’s pinpoint cross found Grouse in space in front of goal, but his header sailed just wide of the far post.
Sutton responded in ruthless fashion, as moments later, Matt Bishop’s forward ball and Joe Gildea’s clever dummy released skipper Massey, who kept his composure to slot neatly into the bottom corner and double the advantage.
United kept up the pressure and substitute Leyton Hines made an immediate impact, delivering a perfectly weighted pass for Aidan Mee to run onto and finish confidently beyond Matthew White for Sutton’s third.
The fourth soon followed as Red Simmons burst past his marker on the left and cut the ball back for Oli Jeeves to control and smash home his 22nd goal of the season.
Barely two minutes later, Sutton completed the scoring when tenacious work in midfield from Hayden and Isai Marselia led to Ryan Nesbitt picking up possession on the left. He drove forward and unleashed a superb left-footed strike that flew into the top far corner, capping a memorable afternoon.
The win sees Sutton travel to Gornal Athletic, as the league’s second and third finishers compete for promotion in the play-off final on Saturday 2nd May kick off 3pm.
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Aidan Mee – 72’ Tion Pearce
3. Red Simmons
4. Matt Bishop
5. Lewis Wall
6. Ben George
7. Jay Clement – 68’ Leyton Hines
8. Lewis Hayden
9. Joe Gildea – 71’ Oli Jeeves
10. Tom Massey (c) – 76’ Isai Marselia
11. Ryan Nesbitt
Unused Sub: Gabe Newey
Management/Assistants:
Neil Tooth, Phil Male
Carlos De Azevedo, Aiden Jeynes
Evija Stauga, Derrick Culling
Team: Heather St. John’s
1. Matthew White
2. Lucinee Donzo – 82’ Kye Billingham-Belle
3. Harry Stewart
4. Jack Robinson – 46’ Lewis Hopewell
5. Oliver Bradshaw
6. Jack Hession
7. Kian Taylor (c) – 77’ Kye Wooldridge
8. Liam Storer – 80’ Joseph Neal
9. Will Groocock
10. Sam Grouse
11. Chris Acott – 83’ Jack Gunn
Management/Assistants:
Shaun Hession, Sam Muggleton
Paul Griebel, James Grouse
Max Dutton, Zoe Price
Match Officials: Danny Meers, Ryan Grandison, Adam Gittens, Darren Laska
| Sutton United | Statistics | Heather St. Johns |
| 5 | Goals | 0 |
| 17 | Attempts | 3 |
| 10 | Attempts on Target | 1 |
| 63% | Possession | 37% |
| 5 | Corners | 2 |
| 4 | Fouls Committed | 10 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 1 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Matt Bishop | Opp Man of the Match | Will Groocock |
| Tom Massey | Club Man of the Match |