SUTTON BEAT BOLDMERE TO END THE YEAR ON A HIGH
BY ANDREW DELANEY
Sutton United completed a successful 2022 with a comfortable win over local rivals Boldmere Sports & Social.
An impressive crowd turned out and observed a respectful minute silence prior to kick off in support of George Perry and his family following the recent passing of his mother.
In what was a bitterly cold and windy Christmas Bank Holiday fixture, Matt Bishop netted the opener for Sutton before Joe Delaney dinked one over the keeper to double their lead. Boldmere pulled one back before the break only for Adam Billett to score an own goal in the second half that sealed the win for the home side.
United looked a little sluggish thanks to the Christmas break and not having played for over three weeks. They had to play a patient game to break down the visitor’s strong defensive shape, with the breakthrough coming in the 20th minute when Delaney’s free kick was brilliantly tipped onto the crossbar by visiting keeper, Jack Richards, and Leyton Hines headed on the rebound for defender Bishop to tap in for his second goal in five matches.
Just four minutes later Sutton had doubled their lead when Josh Duggan spread the ball wide for Delaney to beat his defender and deliver a clever finish over the keeper that takes his tally to fifteen for the season.
The visitors pulled a goal back on the half hour mark when Kasen Peace rose highest to head the ball on for Will Jones to finish at the back post.
Sutton could have had a third before the break when striker Andy Matthews fired an eighteen-yard shot that clipped the outside of the post and later Lewis James saw his low shot gathered by Richards.
Sutton made changes for the start of the second half with Pete Bannister and Matty Lewis coming on. Their third goal came after a strong period of possession was finished with Delaney curling over a cross that Sef Semlali glanced onto the keeper before Billett touched into his own goal.
United continued to create chances with the best efforts falling to Leyton Hines who fired over a driven cross and then Matt Hurrell heading onto the woodwork when a corner kick found him at the back post.
For Boldmere, substitute Ellis Whitelaw came closest to a goal with a shot that grazed the outside of the upright. And when Sutton were caught napping in the 84th minute, Jones pounced to win possession, and Kaine Donald did enough to put off Deandre Davis who couldn’t take advantage of the cross into the box.
The win was Sutton’s 23rd throughout 2022 and they will be hoping to carry that form into the new year with a trip to Coventry Alvis on Monday 2nd January 3pm kick off.
| Sutton United | Statistics | Boldmere S&S |
| 3 | Goals | 1 |
| 19 | Attempts | 8 |
| 12 | Attempts on Target | 4 |
| 2 | Corners | 1 |
| 7 | Fouls Committed | 9 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 2 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Tom Massey | Man of the Match |