Nana Boateng’s late penalty put the icing on the cake of an impressive performance in the National League Cup, sealing a spot in the next stage of the competition after first half goals from Dillon De Silva and Alex Kirk sent them on their way.
De Silva’s maiden goal for the club gave the U’s an early lead when he sent a powerful strike from the edge of the box into the top corner, and was doubled when Kirk opened his own account, volleying beyond George Murray-Jones from a corner with a wonderful first-time effort a few minutes later. Forest pushed for a route back into the game with Kristian Fletcher having a hat-trick of chances, and it was third time the charm for the young winger who halved the deficit with five minutes remaining of the first half after latching onto a long ball from deep.
Sutton added a third goal from the spot with just 15 minutes left when Liam Moore’s pass from deep sliced open the Forest backline and forcing Murray-Jones to commit to a late challenge that saw the referee point to the spot, with Boateng making no mistake from 12 yards.
Kyle McAdam ensured it would be a tense end to the game when he pulled a goal back right before six minutes of added time was indicated, but the U’s held strong to secure a second place finish in Group D.
Victory over Lewis Grabban’s young Forest side sees Sutton qualify for the next stage of the National League Cup, and will be looking to extend their unbeaten start to 2025 when Hartlepool United visit the VBS Community Stadium on Saturday.
Steve Morison made nine changes from the side that beat Kidderminster Harriers in the FA Trophy on the weekend, with Jack Wadham and Alex Kirk the only starters to remain from Saturday’s narrow victory.
The U’s got the ball rolling for the final time in the National League Cup group stage, but it was Forest who produced the first opening of the match as Frank Djama tested Matt Kerbey with a tame shot early on.
The Reds continued to push for an early opener, and forced Kerbey into an error which afforded Forest the chance to attack again. Jimmy Sinclair driving forward on the right flank before picking out Manni Norkett, who will have been disappointed to not give the visitors the lead, instead sending a looping first-time effort over the crossbar.
The hosts soon did go in front though and did so in style. After seeing two chances go amiss on the weekend, De Silva will have been keen to not make the same mistake again when he drove into space with ten minutes gone, unleashing a powerful strike that flew into the top corner to break the deadlock.
This was immediately followed by a similar chance for Kristian Fletcher at the other end, who struck a high shot that couldn’t quite match De Silva’s effort moments earlier, sending it well off target.
And Fletcher will have rued this miss, with Kirk meeting a corner to send a sweetly struck volley past George Murray-Jones.
Sutton and almost added a third moments later when Siju Odelusi flashed a low drive free kick just off target, with Nana Boateng going close soon after, finding space in the box before firing an effort goalward that Murray-Jones was equal to.
The U’s looked comfortable with their two-goal cushion with chances becoming few and far as they looked to protect their lead. The visitors had the next clear-cut opportunity when Fletcher fizzed a powerful effort over the crossbar just before the half-hour mark, and was followed by a potshot from Hayden Muller who couldn’t keep his hopeful drive from distance on target shortly before the break.
Forest would soon find their desired first goal though, with Fletcher finally managing to beat Kerbey after the on-loan DC United man raced into the box, before firing a low effort into the bottom corner.
Looking to restore their two-goal advantage, Sutton pushed back up the pitch with Ryan Jackson squeezing past the Forest defence to make space for a shot, before sending a vicious effort that whistled past the far post.
Nonetheless, two early goals for the U’s ensured they went into the break with a narrow advantage.
In search of a leveller, Forest came out the blocks quickest after the restart and went close when Jack Perkins struck wide of the near post, having done well to get himself into a shooting position.
A double change on the hour-mark allowed Morison to freshen things up, witih Siju Odelusi and De Silva being replaced by academy players Moore and Joden Trickett, adding to the introduction of Jack Taylor who entered the fray at half time.
Forest went close to equalising when Josh Powell fired over with 20 minutes to go though, and saw the U’s amp the pressure in their attempt to see out the victory.
Boateng was at the centre of the attacks and almost provided a third in spectacular fashion, whipping a dangerous cross into the middle that Vinnie Tume was unable to meet.
Another of the academy players did contribute to a third goal though, with substitute Moore making an instant impact. The young midfielder sent a defence-splitting pass into the path of the onrushing Boateng who picked up the ball and looked to round Murray-Jones, with the Forest keeper taking him out in an attempt to win possession.
The former Millwall man stepped up himself to take the spot-kick, and calmly dispatched from 12 yards to restore Sutton’s two-goal cushion.
Moore could have turned scorer moments later, firing a powerful effort over the crossbar from distance after Boateng’s free kick rebounded into his path, and was followed by fellow academy player Junior Eccleston testing Murray-Jones himself with just a few minutes left.
There was just enough time for McAdam to fire a second goal beyond Kerbey ahead of six additional minutes, but Sutton remained stubborn at the back to see out a narrow victory.
Sutton United: Kerbey; Kirk (Taylor 46), Ransom, Muller; Jackson, Odelusi (Moore 62’), Wadham (Vaz 90’), Eccleston; De Silva (Trickett 62’), Boateng; Tume
Nottingham Forest: Murray-Jones; Hammond, Powell (Daly 87’), Thompson, McAdam, Djamna (Smith 75’), Sinclair, Perkins, Norkett (Brown 71’), Nadin, Fletcher
Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin
