Season closing stalemate

Sutton United earned a point on the road in their final match of the season against Ingles.

Two mid-table sides produced a typical end-of-season affair, with Sutton already having secured a tenth-place finish in MFL 1, whilst the point edged Ingles up one place to end the season in eighth.

The result ended a run of three defeats for United as Charlie Busst and Josh Rudge came into the team, plus starts for Hayden Froggatt and Harry Howard. Sef Semlali was given the captain’s armband for his final match for the club after four successful seasons, including the victorious back-to-back promotions.

The match was closely contested and produced very few clear-cut opportunities in front of goal for either team. Ingles came closest to opening the scoring in the 21st minute, when a free kick was floated into the penalty box and Adam Palmer’s shot was superbly parried by Greg Lewis, before Mike Tuck’s follow-up was flagged off-side.

Sutton had a couple of half chances before their best effort of the half saw Rudge unleash a low strike from the edge of the penalty area that Lorcan Morrissey did well to hold, as both Semlali and Froggatt were bearing down on the keeper in the hope of a rebound.

United increased the tempo in the second half but the chances in front of goal were still difficult to come by. Howard tried is luck from distance with a low drive, but it didn’t give Morrissey too much trouble.

Sutton did have the best opportunity of the half when Harry Manton delivered a superb cross to Sam Jeeves at the back post, but he was quickly closed down and laid the ball off to Hines; his shot was then deflected over as Tuck threw his body in front of the striker.

Hines came close again when he flicked a shot at the near post that Morrissey pushed onto his own crossbar, before Palmer swept the ball clear for Ingles.

Lewis had not been troubled too much this half in goal for Sutton, but he had to remain alert to deny substitute Jamie Light a goal in the 87th minute; diving low to save the 25-yard driven shot and secure a well-earned clean sheet to finish the season.

Team: Ingles
1. Lorcan Morrissey
2. Sean Bennett – 88’ Lucas Turrell
3. De-Quarnai Williams
4. Adam Palmer – 90’ Adam Hitchcock
15. Adam Boulter
6. Mike Tuck
7. Ellis Edwards – 65’ Joe Goodwin
8. Billy Blackshaw (c)
9. Louis Clarke
10. Aaron Windram – 90’ Joe Hughes
11. Jack Allen – 72’ Jamie Light

Management/Assistants:
Jordan Allen
Dan Chapman
Mohit Kandariya

Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Charlie Busst – 72’ Sam Jeeves
3. Harry Manton
4. Matt Bishop
5. Tion Pearce
6. Sam Simmonds – 88’ Aaron Cameron
7. Josh Rudge – 72’ Leyton Hines
8. Sef Semlali (c)
9. Hayden Froggatt – 84’ Ryan Delport
10. Tom Massey – 68’ Jonny Grigg
11. Harry Howard

Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Amelia Small
Matt Thorpe

Match Officials: Thomas Bartlett, Ashley Bonner, Ciprian Grosu