2,246 fans were in attendance as the U’s were held to a goalless draw against last season’s National League South champions Yeovil Town.
It was a 252-mile round trip for the Glovers, who went into the game off the back of a 1-0 loss to Oldham. The U’s meanwhile looked to build upon last weekend’s thriller against Ebbsfleet United and went into the game looking for their third win on the bounce.
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.
A point against the Glovers sees the U’s sit ninth in the National League table, and will next make the short trip across Surrey with a trip to Woking on Saturday.
There were three changes to the line-side that beat Ebbsfleet on Saturday. Siju Odelusi, Eduino Vaz and captain Tyler French respectively came into the starting XI, while recent recruit Edwin Agbaje was amongst the substitutes for his first involvement in the team since joining on loan in early September. Defender Ryan Jackson remained out of contention with a bruised retina suffered at Southend United, alongside Hayden Muller who is still suffering from a hamstring problem.
The opening chance of the game would fall for the U’s as Odelusi won the ball in midfield, allowing Simper to have a powerful shot at goal which was blocked by Morgan Williams. Yeovil would follow this with a chance of their own, with forward Frank Nouble having enough time to take a touch on the edge of the box, before rifling a powerful effort wide of the target.
This was followed by a chance for Simper, as Harris won a free kick in a dangerous area allowing the former Cambridge United man to bend an effort towards goal, forcing Wright to save out for a corner.
Soon after, Jordan Young did incredibly well under pressure to take the ball past Okoli before flashing an effort at goal which Arnold was equal to, before Sutton went up the other end with an attack of their own. Will Davies did extremely well to win the ball back in midfield, before laying the ball to French who’s cross towards Ashley Nadesan was cleared.
The next chance would fall for the visitors as Charlie Cooper played a great ball through to Young who forced a sliding Okoli to produce a brilliant interception and deny any danger.
Odelusi then fancied himself from long range as he stood over a free kick from 40-yards out, smashing his effort into the wall.
The last chance of the half would fall for Davies as he drove a powerful effort just wide of the near post, sending the two sides into the break goalless
Sutton started the second half unchanged, although Steve Morison did make a change ten minutes into the half with a double change, with Odelusi and Vaz making way for Finley Barbrook and Coley as the U’s pushed on for an opening goal.
Sutton started the second half positively and had the first chance of the half, with Waller making a darting run down the left flank before seeing his cross saved by Wright. Okoli did well to rise highest from the resulting corner and head the ball to Barbrook, who’s headed effort was comfortably held by Wright.
Substitute Coley then did incredibly well to drive the ball inside from the left flank and curl an effort towards goal which Wright tipped out for a corner.
This preceded another chance for the Glovers, with Young doing well to cut inside before sending his curling effort at goal well off target. Pearson then led the next Yeovil attack, cutting inside before curling an effort wide of the mark.
An excellent chance then fell for the U’s, with Coley magnificently plucking the ball out the air before driving forward and being dragged down by Yeovil fullback Alex Whittle, who would see himself in the book. Although Harris would pick up the loose ball and fire goalward, the referee brought it back for a free kick, which Simper struck wide of the mark.
A late corner would see the ball fall to Waller on the edge of the box who sent a dangerous cross into the mixer, and after a goal-line scramble, the ball rebounded off Davies which forced Wright into a dramatic save to deny United a late winner.
With a final push for an opener going into the last few seconds of the 90, Morison made a final change as Jeremy Sivi made his way onto the pitch in place of Nadesan, but this wasn’t enough to seal a winner as it ended all square.
Sutton United: S Arnold; C Okoli, H Ransom, C Waller; T French, J Harris, L Simper, S Odelusi (sub F Barbrook 57), E Vaz (sub J Coley 57); A Nadesan (sub J Sivi 90), W Davies. Subs n/u J Sims, E Agbaje, M Rush, N Boateng. Booked: Davies, Nadesan, Harris.
Yeovil Town: O Wright, A Whittle (sub F Cousin-Dawson 90+2), M Williams, J Wannell, A Jarvis (sub M Worthington 76), F Nouble, J Young (sub S Lo-Everton 90+4′), B McGavin, C Cooper, O Bernard, C McGuckin (sub M Pearson 61). Subs n/u M Gould. Booked: Cooper, Bernard, Williams, Whittle.
Referee: Paul Johnson
Attendance: 2,246 (181 away)
