Match Report

A Mani Dieseruvwe hat-trick condemned Sutton United to a dramatic defeat against Hartlepool United, at a rowdy Prestige Group Stadium.

Jayden Harris gave the U’s a perfect start when he turned home Josh Coley’s cutback to give the U’s an early lead, with Ashley Nadesan doubling their lead shortly before the half-hour mark when he met Eduino Vaz’s inch-perfect cross.

However, Hartlepool would produce a dramatic reaction in the second half, with Luke Charman heading Joe Grey’s cross past Arnold ten minutes after the restart, before a double from Dieservuvwe overturned the scoreline in the hosts’ favour.

Despite enjoying the better of things in the second half, the Pools would be pegged back when Lewis Simper fired home a wonderful effort late on to level the score, but wasn’t enough to steal a point as Dieservuvwe struck again moments later to complete the turnaround.

Defeat in the North East means the U’s lose for the first time in five outings and drop to ninth in the Vanarama National League table, ahead of next Saturday’s trip to Chertsey Town as Sutton switch their attention to Emirates FA Cup action.

Two changes to the starting line-up saw Nadesan and Vaz come into the team, while there was room on the bench for new recruit Alex Kirk, as well as a welcome return for Dillon De Silva who was named in the squad for the first time since the opening day of the season due to a knee injury.

An early chance for the hosts threatened to be a warning sign for Steve Morison’s side, with David Ferguson’s corner causing commotion in the penalty area, with blocks required in quick succession to deny Adam Campbell and Luke Waterfall.

The U’s ensured they maintained control of proceedings though, and got off to a lightning quick start when Harris opened the scoring after just six minutes. A superb run from Coley saw him drive past Ferguson on the right flank, before cutting the ball back into the middle with Harris in the right place at the right time to tap home.

A half chance fell to Gary Madine after 19 minutes as he struck wide from close range following some good link-up between Dan Dodds and Darren Robinson, shortly before the U’s struck for a second time.

With the hosts in disarray, Vaz found space down the left flank to float a wonderful cross towards the back post, where Nadesan was waiting to turn it home and double the U’s advantage shortly before the half-hour mark.

This would be immediately followed by a first half change from Daryl Sarll, with Grey replacing Robinson in an attempt to find a route back into the game, and preceded a chance for the Pools as Ferguson struck a free kick over the crossbar.

Nadesan would go close to doubling his tally moments later as he volleyed just wide, shortly before the hosts produced their best chance of the game as Charman forced Steve Arnold into a spectacular save to tip his powerful effort over the crossbar.

A second change from Sarll saw Madine replaced by Dieseruvwe, although it was the visitors who went ever so close to getting on the scoresheet next as Will Davies found himself free in the penalty area, toe-poking the ball past the onrushing Brad Young which trickled millimetres wide of the target.

Nonetheless though, the U’s had done enough to give into the interval two goals to the good.

Another two changes were made by Hartlepool after the restart, with Greg Sloggett and Campbell being replaced by Nicky Featherstone and Anthony Mancini, and seemed to have the desired impact as the Pools dramatically turned things on its head.

Grey did well to rob the ball away from Charlie Waller, before picking out Charman at the back post to pull a goal back, moments before Dierseruvwe levelled the scoreline when he out muscled the U’s backline before sliding the ball beyond Arnold.

An immediate response from Morison saw Kirk come on for his Sutton debut in place of Vaz, and would be soon be followed by De Silva making his first appearance since the opening day in place of Coley.

The Pools maintained all the momentum though, and completed the turnaround from a corner when Dieseruvwe struck from close range amidst a sea of bodies to give Hartlepool the lead with 18 minutes to go.

With the hosts the ascendancy, it seemed a long way back for the U’s, with a half chance the most they could muster as Harris fired just over the crossbar with a speculative effort, and was followed by a better effort from Mancini who fired down the throat of Arnold.

Sutton though they had done enough to nick a point late on when Simper arrowed a calmly struck effort into the far corner to level proceedings, but Dieserevwe was on hand once more to head beyond Arnold just two minutes later to restore their advantage.

Despite a couple of chances at the death for Davies and Chin Okoli, Hartlepool produced some heroic defending to deny both and seal all three points.

Hartlepool United: B Young; D Dodds, L Waterfall, B Sass-Davies, D Ferguson; N Sheron, G Sloggett (sub N Featherstone H-T)), D Robinson (sub J Grey 27); A Campbell (sub A Mancini H-T), G Madine (sub M Dieseruvwe 38), L Charman (sub N Asiimwe 87’). Subs n/u R Mathaurin, A Smith. Booked: Robinson, Waterfall, Ferguson, Charman

Sutton United: S Arnold; T French, C Okoli, C Waller; J Coley (sub D De Silva 70), J Harris, F Barbrook, L Simper, E Vaz (sub A Kirk 59); W Davies, A Nadesan. Subs n/u J Sims, S Odelusi, M Rush, N Boateng, J Sivi.

Referee: Steven Copeland

Attendance: 3,408(94 away)