Joe GOALdea wins it for Sutton!
Two goals from Joe Gildea sent Sutton United through to the next round of the Midland Football League Cup in a pulsating 2-1 victory over MFL Premier side Wolverhampton Casuals.
The Sutton striker converted a fantastic free kick to give United the lead in the first half and he added another with a composed finish at the start of the second to make it four goals in his last two games.
There were four changes to the starting line-up for Sutton, with George Ray coming into defence, Sef Semlali in midfield, and the two forwards Leyton Hines and Joe Gildea.
The match began brightly with Wolverhampton seeing the first effort on goal, as Billy Gorns struck over the bar and this was quickly followed with an effort from Thomas Cottam, that had Gabe Newey off his line to block the shot.
Sutton looked well organised, and they took the lead in the 8th minute, when Sef Semlali won a free kick 23-yards from goal and Gildea stepped up to execute a superb strike into the top corner of the net, giving keeper Lucas Kibrya no chance.
United were playing the ball out well from the back and Hayden Froggatt had an excellent chance to score with an effort that skimmed just wide of the near post, after his positive run into the box. Sam Jeeves also tried his luck from distance but couldn’t beat Kibrya.
For Wolverhampton, their captain Harry Rogers was strong at the back whilst always providing a good pass into attack. He came close to a goal from a set piece, striking wide at the back post.
Leyton Hines picked up an injury on the half hour and was replaced by newly registered Reece Gibson. And the striker made an immediate impact, providing the assist for Sutton’s second goal that came in the first minute of the second half, when he latched onto a loose pass from Wolverhampton, before squaring the ball for Gildea to guide into the back of the net.
The visitors had made some changes at the start of the second half and began to look a threat from wide areas, pulling a goal back in the 57th minute with a pass sent down the left flank for Robin Allesbrook, who cut the ball back for Connor Parker to finish.
Sutton had to weather a strong twenty minutes from the Casuals, and they had their keeper to thank in the 68th minute, when Cottam found himself in on goal after Sutton had failed to clear their lines, and Newey’s excellent stop kept the hosts ahead.
United worked incredibly hard to keep Wolverhampton at bay, whilst still creating some good chances in front of goal. Ray came close with a header from a corner kick and Gibson had a shot brilliantly tipped behind by Kibrya. Froggatt also saw an effort fly over the cross bar after Tom Massey had done well to win the ball and find the striker in the box.
For the visitors, their best chance of an equaliser came late on, when Cottam received the ball on the left and drove into the box before his shot skimmed off the top of the cross bar.
Wolverhampton finished the match with ten men when Tyler Bishop was dismissed for an off the ball incident in added time and Sutton went on to secure a fantastic win that puts them into the next round.
Next Saturday United return to league action with a trip to Stapenhill who sit just two places below them in the table.
Team: Sutton United
1. Gabe Newey
2. Jon Grigg
3. Scott Hardy
4. Matt Bishop (c)
5. George Ray
6. Sam Jeeves – 80’ Sam Simmonds
7. Leyton Hines – 31’ Reece Gibson
8. Sef Semlali – 53’ Tom Massey
9. Oli Jeeves – 67’ Abdul Touaiti
10. Joe Gildea
11. Hayden Froggatt
Sub Unused: Harry Howard
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath, Liam Burke
Adam Watson, Derek Culling
Amelia Small
Team: Wolverhampton Casuals
1. Lucas Kibrya
2. Jonathan Millichip – 53’ James Pritchard
3. Hayden Seymour
4. Harry Rogers (c)
5. Sam Smith
6. Tyler Bishop
7. Kamren Smith – 70’ Farid Mikidam
8. Billy Corns – 83’ Fred Summerville
9. Connor Parker
10. Thomas Cottam
11. Joshua Christie – 46’ Robin Allesbrook
Sub Unused: Sam Higginson
Management/Assistants:
Chris Hipkins, Steve Barrow
Rob Perks, Shane Wheaver
Match Officials: Callum Johnson, Callum Finnegan, Kevin Carroll