Sutton Hit Four Past Studley
Sutton United booked their place in the League Cup semi-finals with an outstanding 4-1 home victory over higher-league opposition Studley FC.
Sutton delivered a confident and composed team performance under the lights at Coleshill Road, with four fantastic goals in an entertaining match for those fans who braved the wintry conditions on a Tuesday evening.
From the opening exchanges, Sutton looked assured on the ball and set the tempo, enjoying the better of the first-half play and heading into the break with a deserved 3-1 advantage.
They took the lead in the 14th minute through Joe Gildea, who produced a moment of real quality. After Harry Manton played an inviting pass forward, Gildea showed great awareness and technique to guide a sumptuous flick over the goalkeeper from the left of goal.
Studley responded in the 27th minute, capitalising on a rare Sutton mistake. Flynn Coffey stole possession from Matt Bishop near the touchline and delivered into the box, where Ethan Evans saw his initial effort blocked by James Gallagher, before firing home from twelve yards to level the scores.
United’s response was immediate, as they won a corner within a minute of the restart and Bishop made amends in perfect fashion, rising above his marker at the back post to power a header into the net and restore United’s lead.
Buoyed by the goal, Sutton continued to press forward and created a series of chances. Studley goalkeeper Aaron Flahaven denied Gildea with a fine save from a header, Lewis Hayden had an 18-yard effort blocked, while Oli Jeeves and Dylan Green both went close with strikes that flashed just wide.
Sutton then gave themselves a two-goal cushion with a goal in added time at the end of the first half. Jeeves did brilliantly to beat two defenders and pick out Green in the box, who took his chance to fire in a superb finish from the left to claim his eighth goal of the season.
United remained a threat after the break, as Jeeves was unable to quite connect with teasing deliveries from Jay Clement and Aidan Mee, while Green was denied a second goal of the night when Gildea played him through one-on-one, only for Flahaven to produce an excellent stop.
Studley increased their tempo in the final half hour and threatened on the counter in the 63rd minute, when Evans’ shot deflected off Bishop into the path of Lucas Baily, who volleyed over from ten yards. And late on, Evans cut inside for the visitors and sent an effort narrowly wide of the far post.
However, the Studley captain received a sin bin late in the half and Sutton were able to reassert control, and with snow beginning to fall heavily at Coleshill Road, the Greens sealed the victory with another goal in the 80th minute. Clement, making just his third appearance since joining the club, capped a solid performance on the right wing with a stunning first goal for Sutton, striking powerfully from 18 yards to beat Flahaven in style.
It was a thoroughly impressive team performance from Sutton, who can now look ahead to a League Cup semi-final with confidence. There is no fixture this Saturday, with Sutton returning to action on Saturday 14th February when they host AFC North Kilworth in the league, kicking off at 3pm.
Team: Sutton United
1. Greg Lewis
2. Aidan Mee
3. Harry Manton – 59’ Lewis Wall
4. Matt Bishop
5. James Gallagher
6. Lewis Hayden (c)
7. Jay Clement – 81’ Leyton Hines
8. Ben George – 81’ Jon Grigg
9. Joe Gildea
10. Oli Jeeves
11. Dylan Green – 65’ Tom Massey
Management/Assistants:
Neil Tooth, Phil Male
Carlos De Azevedo
Aidan Jeynes, Marcus Davies
Evija Stauga, Derrick Culling
Team: Studley FC
1. Aaron Flahaven
2. Jake Donnelly – 81’ Jack Homer -Yarwood
3. Charlie Watts (c)
4. Luca Papastyliannou – 77’ Nate Trimbrell
5. Jamie Holden – 81’ Josh Slater
6. Luca Hancock
7. Ethan Evans
8. Flynn Coffey
9. Lucas Baily
10. Luke Fallows – 58’ Harrison Bassford
11. Diego Brown
Management/Assistants:
Myles Cooper
Craig Walton
Match Officials: Alex Shaw, Benjamin Kular, Ryan Grandison
| Sutton United | Statistics | Studley FC |
| 4 | Goals | 1 |
| 14 | Attempts | 4 |
| 10 | Attempts on Target | 2 |
| 58% | Possession | 42% |
| 5 | Corners | 1 |
| 9 | Fouls Committed | 14 |
| 1 | Yellow Cards | 4 |
| 0 | Red Cards | 0 |
| Joe Gildea | Club Man of the Match | |
| Opp Man of the Match | Diego Brown |