Guildford City (0) 0, Sutton United (2) 5
by Charlie Matthews
At the second attempt Guildford’s Surrey Cup match against National league opposition has gone ahead. Surprisingly perhaps manager Chris Agutter named a strong side to face City with only a couple academy prospects in the side all on the bench. In the match preview Agutter had said he wanted little change to the side and wanted to be in good running up to the FA Cup. The game started steadily for Sutton with the Sweeney’s defence soon under pressure from balls into the box. A corner in the 9th minute nearly put the visitors in front when a back post cross met a Sutton head but City keeper Mason Whitnell did very well to push it away. The crosses kept coming and this time Sutton’s new loan signing Kai Jennings whipped a ball into the box which met the head of Harry Phipps for the opening goal. In the 22nd minute another corner caused City trouble with Phipps second goal of the night and his second header. City continued to chase the ball with not much possession and up to the 25-minute point not a single shot on goal. This continued throughout the half with Sutton having most of the ball at their feet, although the City defence coped with this quite well. City never really gave the Sutton keeper a test up before half time although there were some lively runs by new strikers Gabriel and Fosu trying to get in behind the National League defence. With little to none added time the ref blew for half time and Sutton went into the break two up.
After half time both teams decided to make changes to their squad. For City Le Page made way for Robertson and McLean made way for Peart, whilst for the visitors Reid and Jennings both got replaced for Aziaya and Crichlow. The second half started lively for Sutton as they had the ball in the net by the 47th minute only for it to be chalked off by the linesman’s raised flag. Come the 50th minute another cross was whipped into City’s box that seemed to hit a hand giving Sutton a chance to grab their third from the penalty spot. Njoku stepped up to slot the ball towards the left-hand corner of the goal but a great save diving save from new keeper Whitnell denied him. After this Sutton decided to take of the man who had scored the brace in the first half being replaced by a player retuning after injury in Woodyard. With 30 minutes remaining City’s chances of a comeback looked less when a great strike from midfielder Charlie Bell gave Sutton their 3-goal lead, and it was a very good strike too. Sutton then got their fourth in the 71st minute as Njoku finally got his goal of the night weaving and dribbling through the City box, then playing the ball past Whitnell. City’s newcomer Peart looked very useful in the second half having two great runs through the Sutton team but first failing to get his shot of and then Kai Zini had Guildford’s first shot of the night but not on target. Njoku then got his second – Suttons fifth with another well worked goal showing some real quality in the side. Finally in the last shot of the game Njoku nearly gets his hat-trick but a brilliant reflex action from Whitnell managed to tip the shot away. The full-time whistle then went, and City bowed out of the Surrey Senior Cup to a very strong, technical and bright Sutton side.
Team: Mason Whitnell, Alex Rodway-Brown (Ben Matthews 61), Tobi Falodi, Alex McLean (Charlie Robertson 46), Alexander William-Nwadike, Alex Stingelin, Luca Le Page (Frank Boamah 46), Glenn Gabriel (Kallum Peart 51), Daniel Fosu, Kai Zini, Josh Adjei (Jojo Ampah 51).
Referee: Pat Nixon
Attendance – 103
Photograph by Paul Loughlin