The U’s have the chance to build on three games unbeaten, with Steve Morison’s side making the short trip across Surrey to take on Woking on Saturday.
Last Time Out
Yeovil Town made the journey from Somerset on Tuesday night and held the U’s to a goalless draw to prevent them from making it three wins on the spin, with a top performance from Ollie Wright in particular keeping the U’s at bay although they did keep a first clean sheet since August at the other end of the pitch.
It was the Glovers who went closest to an opener in the first half, with Chinwike Okoli getting called into action to produce a crucial last-ditch challenge to deny Aaron Jarvis, but it was the U’s who enjoyed the better of things over the course of the half. Lewis Simper was the star man for sure, who went close himself with a dipping free kick that required Ollie Wright to tip it over the crossbar, while late chances for Will Davies and Simper were unable to give Steve Morison’s side the lead before the interval. The U’s would have the better of the second half but were unable to break the deadlock. Yeovil keeper Wright did incredibly well on multiple occasions to deny Sutton a chance of breaking the deadlock. Waller would start the half rifling an effort towards Town keeper Wright who stood tall to deny any chance of an opener.
Both sides would also push for a winner throughout the second half with Josh Coley going closest with a superb effort from 30-yards that needed to be tipped behind by Wright, but were unable to break the deadlock as it ended goalless.
Watch the highlights here.
The Opposition
Woking are a side who would perhaps be disappointed with how their last 18 months has gone, having previously looked a side on the up under Darren Sarll.
The Cardinals have competed in the fifth tier in 11 of the last 12 seasons, and after being promoted back to the National League in 2018, have largely finished mid-table. The appointment of Sarll to replace Alan Dowson in 2022 looked to see an upturn in performances, and the Surrey-based outfit finished fourth in the division to take part in play-offs. Although would lose in the eliminator round to Bromley, Cards fans will have been optimistic for the season ahead, and therefore disappointed with how things turned out.
Indeed, Sarll would remain in the dugout at Kingfield until November 2023, being dismissed after a run of eight defeats in their previous ten matches which had left Woking 14th in the National League table. Michael Doyle would replace the former Stevenage and Yeovil Town manager and steadied the ship with an eventual 17th place finish, three points above the drop zone.
The Cards subsequently saw plenty of change in the summer, with a number of high-profile departures including top scorers from the previous two seasons Rhys Browne and Ricky Korboa, captain Josh Casey, as well as Reece Grego-Cox, Scott Cuthbert, Charlie Wakefield, Luke Wilkinson and Matt Robinson to name a few. This meant reinforcements were required, with Doyle bringing in former U’s Harry Beautyman and Deon Moore, as well as Barnet duo Dale Gorman and Ben Wynter, Cian Harries from Aldershot Town, and a number of young players from EFL clubs including Jamie Andrews, Matt Ward, Timi Odusina, Max Dyche, Raheem Conte and Tom Leahy.
Recent Form
Eastleigh 2-2 Woking
AFC Fylde 1-1 Woking
Woking 1-3 Oldham Athletic
Woking 1-0 Wealdstone
Braintree Town 0-0 Woking
Rochdale AFC 3-0 Woking
The Manager
Former Republic of Ireland international Michael Doyle took the reins at the Laithwaite Community Stadium back in December 2023, taking on his first managerial role following a 24-year playing career that saw him turn out for Celtic, AGF Aarhus, Coventry City, Leeds United, Sheffield United, Portsmouth and Notts County.
Doyle opted to hang up his boots in 2021 having temporarily and later permanently taken on the assistant head coach role with the Magpies whilst still registered as a player, and departed Meadow Lane in 2022 when he followed head coach Ian Burchnall to League One side Forest Green Rovers.
The ex-midfielder would depart when the Gloucester-based outfit parted company with Burchnall and was later appointed as a Professional Developmental Phase coach at Portsmouth’s youth academy, reuniting him with his former club.
Following five months on the South Coast, Doyle would be set to take on his first role in first team management, replacing Darren Sarll at Woking and guiding the Cards to survival.
One to Watch
Lewis Walker
Son of former England defender Des, Lewis Walker joined Woking permanently in January 2024 having previously enjoyed a loan spell at the Laithwaite Community Stadium.
An Ilkeston academy product, Walker would spend two years with Derby County, and gained experience on loan in the National League North with Darlington before departing Pride Park in 2018. He would make the switch to fellow Championship club Queens Park Rangers and made his professional debut for the club as a late substitute for Israel international Tomer Hemed in a 4-0 victory over Swansea City, going on to appear four appearances for the R’s. A brief loan spell with Aldershot Town saw him rack up 13 appearances before departing Loftus Road a year later, opting to move to Italy following a trial with Serie C side Como 1907. He would feature 20 times in their title-winning season as well as a further 26 appearances for newly formed Serie D side Athletic Carpi, before leaving Italian football behind with a return to England in 2022.
Walker would sign for Gillingham and scored his first two goals for the Gills in an FA Trophy win over Brighton & Hove Albion’s Under-21’s, but struggled for regular first team opportunities during his two years at the Priestfield Stadium and moved to Woking on loan in search of more minutes. He would remain in Surrey for two months before being recalled, but returned on a permanent deal in January and has scored six goals in 24 appearances.
Head-To-Head
Sutton United 3-2 Woking (11/05/2021)
Sutton United 0-1 Woking (06/02/2021)
Woking 0-1 Sutton United (01/12/2021)
Sutton United 6-2 Woking (01/01/2020)
Woking 0-2 Sutton United (26/12/2019)
Sutton United 2-0 Woking (06/03/2018)
Played for Both
Harry Beautyman joined Woking in the summer following his release from the U’s, having enjoyed a hugely successful six years at Gander Green Lane.
The midfielder initially arrived in South London from Leyton Orient in May 2011, scoring on his debut in a 4-1 win over Tonbridge Angels and subsequently signing an 18-month contract with the club. He would end up scoring 21 times in 81 appearances in his first spell, before departing for Welling United at the end of the 2012/13 season.
Beautyman would spend five years away from the U’s as he turned out for Peterborough United, Northampton Town and Stevenage, but returned in January 2018 with the club now in the Vanarama National League, and would see him cement his legend status with the U’s.
A further six years at Gander Green Lane would see the U’s number ten contribute to promotion to League Two for the first time in the club’s history, scoring 26 goals in two seasons from midfield. He would remain a constant figure in the EFL as well, and helped the club enjoy a successful first season with an eighth place finish and an appearance at Wembley Stadium in the Papa John’s Trophy Final against Rotherham United, appearing 23 times in all competitions.
He would end up racking up more than 70 further appearances with the U’s in League Two, but with relegation being confirmed back in April, Beautyman subsequently joined the bulk of the squad in the departure lounge after three seasons in the EFL.
The 32-year old left the VBS Community Stadium with 73 goals in 387 appearances to his name and countless memories to boot, before making the short trip across Surrey to join Woking, with the Cards’ number seven making nine appearances so far this season.
Team News
Dillon De Silva looks to be moving ever closer to a return to action and is set to return to full training on Monday. While tomorrow’s visit to Woking will come too soon for the Sri Lanka international, he could be in contention for a place on the bench for the trip to Hartlepool United at the start of October.
Ryan Jackson will remain unavailable with a bruised retina and could be a couple of weeks away from returning fully, while the hamstring problem Hayden Muller picked up against Dagenham & Redbridge will keep him out for another few weeks.
Morison’s full pre-match interview is available to view here.
Officials
Stephen Parkinson is the man in the middle on Saturday, in his second season as a National League referee. He will take control of the whistle in his second Sutton game this season having been in the middle for the home game against Altrincham, and he also refereed several EFL games last season including our home game against Harrogate Town.
How to Follow
Video
Overseas-based supporters can watch a live stream on National League TV by purchasing a match pass here for £9.99.
Audio
UK-based supporters will be able to listen to all the action, with a Mixlr audio commentary being available and will be posted on social media accounts before kick-off.
At the Laithwaite Community Stadium
Advance online prices for ground admission are as follows:
Adults: £21
Concessions: £16
Next Gen (age 17-22): £13
Under-17 (14-16): £9
Under-14 (13 and under): £5
Click here to purchase a ticket.
Standing tickets only are available at the turnstile on the day, with an additional charge of £3 in all cases except for under-14s where the price remains at £5. Payment at the turnstile is by card only.
Travel Info
The Supporters’ Club coach leaves at 12pm, cost £20. For further information contact suttonunitedcoachtravel@hotmail.com. Payment required when booking.
For supporters making their own way to the ground, there is no on-site parking, but parking is available in Woking Park opposite the ground or at the Heathside Crescent car park (GU22 7AG about a 20-minute walk away.
Woking station is about a 20–25-minute walk from the ground.
Kit Watch
The U’s will be wearing their amber home kit on the road. You can order a replica version here, with stock set to arrive in the club shop next week.
