In front of a 2,134 attendance, the U’s faced FA cup action against Southern league outfit Chertsey Town. There were five changes from last week’s game which saw United succumb to a 4-3 defeat against Hartlepool. Notable changes include a first start for Alex Kirk since joining over a week ago, while Jack Sims also made his competitive debut for United starting between the sticks.
The first half saw an opening twelve minutes full of goals. Jack Mazzone opened the goal on the fourth minute with a volleyed effort into the bottom right. Back into the starting XI, Matt Rush made no mistake in converting Josh Coley’s cross into the back of the net. It would be Coley who would follow with a goal of his own. The electric winger found himself in space on the edge of the box and curled his effort into the top right corner. The second half saw no goals until injury time as Ben Mason turned a cross into the back of his own net. The best chance for Chertsey would come in the form of a penalty missed by Conor Lee.
The first chance of the game fell for Chertsey. A free kick awarded for obstruction immediately following the kick off was lofted in the box before falling to Robertson who shot over. Chertsey then soon followed with the opener. Mazzone had enough time to fire a shot into the bottom right corner from Mason’s cross.
The U’s would reply with an equaliser not long after. French played the ball out to Coley who headed the ball back across goal where Rush was waiting for his first competitve goal as a United player.
Coley would then follow with United’s second as he made space in the box from another diagonal French pass, .and scored his his fifth goal of the season in spectacular fashion by curling an effort into the far top corner.
Billy Montague then had a chance to lead a Chertsey attack, curling an effort towards goal which was deflected out for a corner. The corner was cleared as far as Wayne Ridgley who hit a tame effort at Sims.
After a break in play, Chertsey had a chance down the Sutton left. Mazzone found himself with the ball at his feet before trying an effort on goal but Okoli did well to get low and deny the Chertsey striker.
A booking for Okoli would soon follow. The defender was left without an option but to pull the Chertsey attacker down just inside the Sutton half.
Following a save by home keeper Nicky Jupp, Lewis Simper had an opportunity to swing the ball into the box from a corner but Chertsey cleared their lines of any danger.
Waller found himself in space on the left with time to play the ball across to Rush who was unable to meet his cross as Jupp dived at his feet, Jupp coming out worse following the collision with Rush and required treatment but was okay to continue.
Following the break in play, Chertsey had a chance. when the ball was switched from one full back to another which allowed Mason to have a chance but he smashed his effort over the bar. This would be the last chance of the first half.
The U’s would start the second half positively with the ball in the back of the net. Coley had an effort at goal which the keeper could only parry as far as Rush who converted the rebound. After some deliberation between officials, the goal was eventually ruled out for offside.
Montague found himself played through and Alex Kirk did well to slide and deny a clear chance on goal. Soon after the assistant raised his flag to deny Montague’s effort at an equaliser. Another chance came for Chertsey as Mason found himself through on the Sutton left and played a ball across which Okoli intercepted out for a corner.
From the corner, Lee tried his luck, curling an effort towards the far post which Sims had to push out clear of danger. A triple substitution for Sutton would follow. Goal scorers Coley and Rush alongside Jeremy Sivi made way for Ashley Nadesan, Jayden Harris and Dillon De Silva respectively. Chertsey would then have the best chance of the half. The ball is played across to Mazzone who seeemd sure to equalise but was denied incredibly by the foot of Sims.
Simper then found himself in the book for a late challenge. A free kick was played into the box which Sims punched as far as Collins. Collins put the ball into the box but the referee halted play for Sims and Alex Fisher to receive treatment after a collision.
Chertsey then won a penalty. Sims punched the ball out but was deemed to have made contact with Lee. Following the decision Odelusi, Sims and Steve Morison ended up in the referee’s book. After an extended wait, Lee was unable to convert as he smacked his effort off the foot of the post and an offside decision halted Chertsey’s attempts to keep the attack alive from the rebound.
With two minutes to go, Chertsey had an effort from distance. Robertson drove the ball to the edge of the box before firing an effort which Sims did well to get low and collect the ball.
United would finish the game with a two goal advantage as Nadesan’s cross across the box was put into the back of the net by Mason under pressure from Will Davies.
Sutton United will be ball number 68 in Monday’s draw.
Chertsey: N Jupp, B Mason, A Fisher, L Birch(sub O McCoy 80), C Duffy, R Collins(sub T Little 90+2), L Robertson, W Ridgley (sub L Degand 84), J Mazzone, B Montague, C Lee. Subs n/u P McCarthy, C Lynch, S Ompreon, M Giamettei. Booked Robertson.
Sutton: J Sims, A Kirk, C Okoli, T French, C Waller, S Odelusi(sub F Barbrook 79), J Coley(sub A Nadesan 59), L Simper, W Davies, M Rush(sub J Harris 59), J Sivi(sub D De Silva 59). Subs n/u S Arnold, E Vaz, N Boateng. Booked Okoli, Simper, Odelusi, Sims, Harris.
Referee: Aaron Farmer
Attendance: 2,134
