Match Report

Two late goals in as many minutes from Finley Barbrook and Will Davies stole the victory from the grasp of AFC Fylde, who had led from the 15th minute on a cold and windy night at Mill Farm.

The hosts drew first blood through Ethan Mitchell, who fired a rocket from the edge of the box after 15 minutes that gave Jack Sims no chance, and had the chance to double their advantage just two minutes after the break when Eduino Vaz was deemed to have bundled Tyler Roberts over in the box. However, Sims produced a strong right hand to deny Gavin Massey from 12 yards, and gave Sutton United some much needed hope heading into the remainder of the second half.

And Sutton took this in their stride, with Barbrook meeting Ashley Nadesan’s delivery with just three minutes to go to pull the visitors back level with a calm and well-struck half-volley underneath Ben Winterbottom, before Josh Coley was taken out by Dan Sassi in the box moments later, and proved to be a tale of two penalties as it allowed Davies to strike the crucial blow at the death from the spot to steal the three points from Fylde’s grasp.

Victory over the Coasters means Sutton jump back up to 12^th in the Vanarama National League table, with results elsewhere meaning the U’s go within six points on the top seven, and will be looking to build on this result on Saturday with the visit of Dagenham & Redbridge.

Steve Morison made four changes to the side that lost to FC Halifax Town on the weekend, with Alex Woodyard returning from illness to make his first appearance in three outings, and was joined by Nadesan, Vaz and Ryan Jackson who all came back into the starting XI.

The U’s will have been looking to kick things off in more positive fashion compared to Saturday, and came close with a couple of half chances early on. First, Nadesan forced Winterbottom into a save from close range after eight minutes, and was followed by Besart Topallaj meeting a low Lewis Simper corner moments later, sending a powerful drive down the throat of the Fylde goalkeeper.

This preceded a corner at the other end, with Roberts heading off target on the quarter-hour mark, but this proved to be a sign of things to come as Fylde took the lead moments later through Mitchell, who took hold of the ball with space to run into just outside the box and fired a deadly effort that flew into the top corner to give the hosts the advantage.

Despite going behind, Sutton looked to respond well, and produced a couple of openings in their search for a leveller. Some neat interplay in the centre of the park sent Jackson away down the right flank, who’s delivery was cleared as far as Topallaj who fired a wayward effort off target while under pressure, and was followed by a chance for top scorer Davies who met a Vaz cross from the left, but couldn’t generate enough power on his header to trouble Winterbottom.

Fylde subsequently remained firm at the back and saw Sutton struggle to create any other clear-cut chances before the break. Two minutes of added time did afford the visitors one last chance as Simper tried his luck from distance, but he couldn’t keep his effort down as the hosts took the advantage heading into the interval.

David Longwell’s side were gifted the opportunity to extend their lead just two minutes after the restart when Roberts got beyond Vaz in the box and forced the Guinea Bissauan to commit, with referee Scott Tallis pointing to the spot without hesitation. However, Sims came to the U’s rescue not for the first time this season, and gave Sutton a lifeline when he guessed correctly before diving low to his right and keeping a strong hand to parry Massey’s spot-kick.

This seemed to spark the U’s into life and preceded a first switch of the evening as Coley replaced Vaz, looking to inject some energy into the visitors’ attacking play.

Sutton certainly seemed to take charge of possession for large portions of the second half, but Fylde continued to stay resolute at the back, restricting Morison’s side to plenty of passes around the penalty area, remaining patient in their quest for an equaliser.

The U’s came close when Topallaj sent a high delivery towards Nadesan, who was just unable to make contact, before Coley came even closer with his first real contribution since coming on, sending a powerful low drive from distance down the throat of Winterbottom.

A couple of changes for the hosts then followed with Coasters’ top scorer Nick Haughton replacing Danny Ormerod, while Owen Evans was introduced in place of Roberts in an attempt to cement their one-goal deficit, and preceded a second change by Morison as Nana Boateng entered the fray in place of Woodyard.

It was the hosts who came close to a goal next though, with Will Hugill producing a driving run down the right flank that led to him picking out Mitchell in the middle, who fired a dangerous effort inches wide of the far post from distance.

Fylde may have thought they had done enough to seal the win, with little real momentum falling Sutton’s way as the hosts continued to defend superbly well. However, the U’s went against the script and almost out of nowhere pulled themselves back level through Barbrook, who met Nadesan’s delivery via a superb dummy from Davies to send a low effort past Winterbottom and rescue what the U’s thought was a point late on.

The visitors had other plans though, with Coley completing his super sub appearance when he proved too much for Sassi to deal with, taking a brilliant touch to take him into the penalty area and forcing the Fylde defender to commit a poorly timed challenge that resulted in a penalty being awarded in Sutton’s favour this time, just a minute after levelling up the scoreline, with Davies making no mistake to bring all three points back to South London.

AFC Fylde: Winterbottom; Sassi (Boatswain 89’), Davis, Mitchell, Hugill, Whelan, McFayden, Massey, Roberts (Evans 72’), Ormerod (Haughton 68’), Riley. Subs n/u Clark, Obi, Long. Booked: Massey, Whelan.

Sutton United: Sims; French, Taylor, Topallaj; Jackson, Barbrook, Woodyard (Boateng 77′), Simper, Vaz (Coley 55’); Nadesan (Odelusi 90’), Davies. Subs n/u Arnold, Ransom, Wadham, Sandat. Booked: Davies.

Referee: Scott Tallis

Attendance: 943(52 away)