“Super Greg Lewis in goal”
Cheered on by the Sutton United faithful, Greg Lewis pulled off three fantastic saves in a dramatic shootout to send Sutton United through to the quarter finals of the MFL League Cup.
It was a thriller under the Coleshill Road lights as, for the second time in three days, Sutton let slip a two-goal lead only for Oli Jeeves to pounce with a last-gasp goal to save the day. This time it sent Sutton into a penalty shootout, which they won 3-1 with the help of their goalkeeper’s heroics.
Sutton made a great start to the match and when Oli Jeeves delivered an inviting cross from the right, Coventry’s Faith Okundaye miscued into his own net to give the hosts an early lead.
Sutton doubled their lead in the 13th minute when Reece Gibson’s excellent pressing won him the ball off the keeper to tap into an open net for his third goal in two matches.
Copsewood pulled a goal back before the half hour when Sam Ellis struck home a 25-yard free kick that took a big deflection off the Sutton wall to find the bottom corner of the net.
United came close to extending their lead when Harry Howard and Joe Gildea combined well on the left before Howard’s effort struck the far post, although it was the visitors who finished the half strongly with Hamza Siddique allowed space to shoot from distance as Lewis gathered.
As the second half got underway Gibson almost scored again when he beat goalkeeper, Caleb Hulley, to a loose back pass, but Joe Anthony was back for Copsewood to clear off the line.
With the match finely balanced, it was the visitors who found an equaliser in the 54th minute, when Siddique cut the ball back for Sam Ellis to finish at the front post with his second of the match.
Both keepers were called into action on the hour mark, as first Lewis made an excellent save to deny the Copsewood captain, Charlie Gordon, from the edge of the box, and then Hulley made a superb stop with his outstretched leg to prevent Gibson a second goal for United.
Chances continued for both sides as Oli Jeeves headed a corner kick just wide of the post and Sam Ellis came close to a hat-trick with a shot that skimmed wide of the far post for Copsewood.
The visitors completed their comeback with a goal in the 70th minute that gave them the lead for the first time in the match. Lewis saved the initial shot from Eden Mukenge, before substitute Preston Bougan-Soh bundled the ball over the line as it spun back towards goal. Sutton argued for a handball in the lead up to the goal, but the referee was having none of it.
Full of confidence, Coventry were now in the ascendency, but United defended well. Abdul Touaiti had a strong game and Zach Binns worked tirelessly down the left flank for Sutton. And with the clock ticking down, Eden Mukenge hit the post for Copsewood with a curling shot from distance, and then Oli Jeeves had the ball in the net for Sutton, only for the linesman to flag for a very close offside.
United never gave up and got their equaliser deep into injury time, and it was that man Oli Jeeves once more, with the clinical finish. Hayden Froggatt had sent Sam Simmonds on his way with a clever back heel through the legs of his marker, and the midfielder shrugged off his man to carry the ball to the edge of the box before squaring for Oli Jeeves to strike into the far corner of the net and send the match to penalties.
Lewis was the hero for Sutton saving three of the Copsewood spot kicks, as Gibson, Froggatt, and Oli Jeeves all netted for United to book their place in the quarter finals.
Sutton return to league action on Monday 2nd December with a trip to local rivals Paget Rangers at Castle Vale Football Stadium 7.45pm kick off.
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. George Ray – 28’ Abdul Touaiti
3. Zach Binns
4. Matt Bishop
5. Tion Pearce
6. Sam Jeeves – 46’ Sam Simmonds
7. Oli Jeeves
8. Tom Massey (c) – 65’ Sef Semlali
9. Reece Gibson
10. Joe Gildea – 65’ Jonathan Baka
11. Harry Howard – 46’ Hayden Froggatt
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath, Liam Burke
Chris Bratt-Rose, Adam Watson
Bobby Brittan, Derek Culling, Amelia Small
Team: Coventry Copsewood
1. Caleb Hulley
2. Sam Hewitt – 51’ Sam A. Ellis
3. Danny Lole
4. Joe Anthony
5. Faith Okundaye og
6. Hamza Siddique – 76’ Bradley Taylor
7. Charlie Gordon (c)
8. Amrun Sandhu – 65’ Alfie Smith
18. Curtis Cutts – 51’ Preston Bougan-Soh
10. Sam Ellis
11. Eden Mukenge
Sub unused: Charlie Hynam
Management/Assistants:
PJ Gordon, Paul Tierney
Rich Webb, Dave Levick
Match Officials: Alexander Richards, Ashley Boon, Kingston Taylor-Avery