Spruced up!
James Spruce opened his account for Sutton United as the Greens cruised to their eighth away win of the season with a composed display against Lutterworth Athletic.
Sutton United remain two points clear at the top of the MFL One with a composed and professional 3-0 victory away at Lutterworth. Goals from James Spruce, his first for the club, followed by strikes from leading scorers Oli Jeeves and Joe Gildea secured another three points on the road for United.
Ben Harrison stepped in between the sticks for the second time this season to deliver another clean sheet, and defender Harry Manton made a welcome return to the squad after five games out with injury.
It was a patient and dominant display from United, who controlled possession from the outset but took their time to break down a resilient Lutterworth side.
Despite enjoying much of the early ball, Sutton’s first real opportunity came in the 17th minute when Aidan Mee sprinted into space at the back post, before powering a header over the crossbar.
Shortly after, Jeeves volleyed over from close range before Tom Massey tested Kieran Culley with a crisp strike from the left of goal, with the Lutterworth keeper producing a smart save at his near post.
The chances kept coming for United, with Spruce making a strong run into the box on 28 minutes before drilling a shot across goal and narrowly wide of the upright.
While Lutterworth offered a few glimpses on the counter, United’s centre-back pairing of Matt Bishop and club man-of-the-match Tion Pearce stood firm. The hosts best moment came in the 35th minute, when Luke Merrall broke through but his shot from eighteen yards was comfortably gathered by Harrison.
Sutton upped the intensity after the break, and they soon had the ball in the back of the net when Jeeves broke through to round the keeper and fire home, only for the referee to overrule the linesperson and disallow for offside.
However, Sutton’s persistence was rewarded with an opening goal in the 60th minute, when a pinpoint cross from the right wing by full-back Mee found Spruce at the back post, and the forward made no mistake with a clinical finish to open his account for the club.
United doubled their lead just three minutes later, this time Ollie Burgundy was the provider, whipping in an early ball from the left for September’s player of the month, Jeeves to bury at the back post.
The Greens continued to push forward and both Lewis Hayden and Jeeves saw efforts off a corner blocked by some brave defending from Lutterworth.
The Atho’s continued to battle and had two good chances late on. Luke Garner latched onto a long ball but dragged his effort just wide, and then Pearce was on hand for United minutes later, to make a superb block to deny Michael Blair.
Sutton weren’t finished yet, and deep into added time substitutes Dylan Green and Leyton Hines combined cleverly in the box, with Green’s shot well saved by Culley, before Gildea pounced on the rebound to slot home his seventh of the season and wrap up the win for United.
It was another assured performance from Sutton, who now look ahead to their next challenge, with a home clash under the lights at Coleshill Road Stadium against Coventry Copsewood on Tuesday 7th October 7.45pm kick off.
Team: Lutterworth Athletic
1. Kieran Culley
2. Callum Pinto
3. Seb Sam
4. Joshua Baker
5. Alex Vineall (c)
6. Ivan Tsipan – 71’ Blake Kindred
7. Alex Olen – 80’ Ryan Kahiroh
8. Bradley Coleman
9. Luke Merrall
10. Zack Knight – 60’ Michael Blair
11. Maverick Martin – 67’ Luke Garner
Sub unused: Ben Steane
Management/Assistants:
Scott Smith
Ethan Thomas
George Spencer
Keir Wood
Craig Jones
Emily Holliday
Team: Sutton United
1. Ben Harrison
2. Aidan Mee
3. Joel Newman – 80’ Harry Manton
4. Matt Bishop
5. Tion Pearce
6. Lewis Wall
7. Ollie Burgundy – 75’ Leyton Hines
8. Lewis Hayden
9. Oli Jeeves – 75’ Joe Gildea
10. Tom Massey (c) – 67’ Dylan Green
11. James Spruce – 75’ Harry Howard
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Aidan Jeynes
Marcus Davies
Evija Stauga
Match Officials: Thomas Johnson, Michael Evans, Amanda Woolley
| Lutterworth Athletic | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 0 | Goals | 3 |
| 4 | Attempts | 12 |
| 3 | Attempts on Target | 8 |
| 33% | Possession | 67% |
| 2 | Corners | 9 |
| 6 | Fouls Committed | 1 |
| 0 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Kieran Culley | Opp Man of the Match | Lewis Hayden |
| Club Man of the Match | Tion Pearce |