Back-to-Back Birstall Blows for Sutton
Sutton United suffered only their second defeat of the season as they were beaten 2-0 by a well-drilled Birstall side, who took full advantage of home soil to secure a deserved three points.
Goals in each half sealed the win for the Leicester side, who repeated their 2-0 scoreline from the same fixture back in March. Sutton, by contrast, struggled to find the fluency and sharpness that has characterised much of their start to the campaign.
Sutton made just two changes to the starting XI, with Harry Manton and Dylan Green coming in to operate down the left flank. But from early on, Sutton found themselves on the back foot against a lively Birstall outfit that looked hungry and well organised.
The opening goal came in the 16th minute, when Reece Lefley won the ball on the right and delivered an excellent cross to the back post, where Nick Reeves floated his header over Gabe Newey to nestle into the far corner.
Sutton responded with a couple of promising moments: Dylan Green curled an effort just wide from the edge of the box, and Tom Massey drove forward purposefully before testing Charlie Doherty at his near post, but clear-cut chances were at a premium for the Greens.
The second half began with both sides creating opportunities. Marley Spencer dragged a shot just wide for the hosts, while Sutton came agonisingly close when Joe Gildea’s header from an Ollie Burgundy corner struck the post.
However, Birstall were beginning to find more space on the flanks, and Sutton’s inability to contain Marley Spencer proved costly. The winger created opportunities for both Reeves who fired over, and then a one-on-one for Ryan Seal in the 64th minute, with Newey out to smother before Lewis Wall finally cleared the danger for Sutton.
Nevertheless, the warning signs were not heeded and just five minutes later Spencer burst down the right and delivered a pinpoint cross to the far post, where Aidan Neal met it with a superb volley to double Birstall’s lead.
Sutton thought they had found a route back into the match when James Spruce fired home from close range, only to be denied by a very tight offside call. Spruce then came close again shortly after, with a an effort from inside the box that went just wide of the target.
Despite this, it was Birstall who looked the more dangerous in the closing stages. Seal was unlucky not to get on the scoresheet, rattling the crossbar with a curled strike, and substitute Karl Nkumba forced Newey into a smart save to tip his shot over.
Ultimately, Birstall’s intensity proved too much for Sutton, who will be disappointed not to have tested the hosts more often in the final third.
With no midweek fixture, Sutton now have a full week to regroup and prepare for the visit of Stapenhill to Coleshill Road Stadium next Saturday, where they’ll look to bounce back and return to winnings ways.
Team: Birstall United
1. Charlie Doherty
2. Matthew Brown
3. Andres Articolo
4. Reece Lefley (c)
5. Paul Pallett
6. Dom Watts
8. Ryan Seal – 85’ Cain Beckett
9. Nick Reeves
10. Kairo Edwards – 11’ Aidan Neal – 75’ Karl Nkumba
11. Marley Spencer
12. Charlie Young
Unused sub: Kieran Gethins, Sam Burton
Management/Assistants:
Sean Phillips
Callum Seal
Steve Toon
Dylan Patel
Reif Armstrong
Owen Dewing
Team: Sutton United
1. Gabe Newey
2. Aidan Mee
3. Harry Manton – 46’ Joel Newman
4. Matt Bishop – 73’ James Gallagher
5. Tion Pearce
6. Lewis Wall
7. James Spruce
8. Lewis Hayden – 63’ Jonny Grigg
9. Joe Gildea
10. Tom Massey – 63’ Harry Howard
11. Dylan Green – 46’ Ollie Burgundy
Management/Assistants:
Richard Heath
Liam Burke
Marcus Davies
Evija Stauga
Match Officials: Oliver Swindall, Mariusz Tomon, Gareth Kibby
| Birstall United | Statistics | Sutton United |
| 2 | Goals | 0 |
| 10 | Attempts | 4 |
| 3 | Attempts on Target | 1 |
| 35% | Possession | 65% |
| 4 | Corners | 9 |
| 8 | Fouls Committed | 12 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 0 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Reece Lefley | Opp Man of the Match | |
| Club Man of the Match | Harry Howard |