Match Report

Sutton United secured their place in the semi-final of the National League Cup with a comprehensive win over a Manchester United side who had previously come out of the group stage with a 100% record.

Finley Barbrook gave Sutton the lead shortly before the half-hour mark when he slid the ball past Will Murdock amidst a whole host of bodies in the box after brilliantly controlling Tyler French’s pull-back, and proved to give them the momentum over the visitors who had previously come close with chances for Sekou Koné, Jack Moorhouse and Amir Ibragimov.

This was followed by a couple chances for Jimmy Thwaites after the restart in search of a leveller, and could have proved to be a warning sign for the U’s, but two goals in two minutes made sure this wasn’t the case. Dillon De Silva first did well to send the overlapping Tyler French to the byline, who’s low cross was turned home by Nana Boateng, with the former Millwall man turning provider moments later when his delivery from the left flank was cleared as far as the edge of the box where Vinnie Tume was lurking, but substitute Jack Wadham got there first to calmly slide the ball home and secure the U’s passage into the last four.

Victory over United sets up a semi-final tie to be played in April, and the U’s will now have plenty of confidence going into their second quarter-final in a row, as they take on Spennymoor Town in the Isuzu FA Trophy on Saturday.

Steve Morison showed his intent from reaching the knockout stage of the National League Cup by naming a stronger side compared to the previous games in the group stage. Seven changes were made, but largely consisted of First Team players with Harry Ransom, Hayden Muller, Alex Woodyard, Boateng and De Silva all coming into the side, with Tume being the only academy player to start.

The visitors showed their quality with three wins from three in the group stage, and almost got off to a perfect start to the knockout round when Koné drilled a powerful effort just wide after ten minutes, and was followed by a chance for Moorhouse who tested Jack Sims in goal soon after.

The U’s were then forced into an early change when Jack Taylor had to be withdrawn, with replacement Alex Kirk being called into action immediately to produce a last ditch challenge to intercept a loose ball before Ibragimov could fire the ball goalward. This preceded a rare chance for fellow defender French, with the skipper drilling a vicious strike from distance over the crossbar.

Unable to test Sims earlier, Ibragimov did soon get the opportunity to shoot shortly before the half-hour mark as the Russian-born forward crashed a powerful effort off the post with Sims surely beaten, and would soon rue this miss moments later.

Looking to maintain control of proceedings, Sutton took the lead with 28 minutes gone when Besart Topallaj’s cross towards the back post was volleyed back into Barbrook’s path by French, with the former showing the composure to slide the ball beyond United number one Murdock and give the U’s the lead, a lead which they would take into the break.

A double change at the break saw Jack Wadham and Siju Odelusi replace goalscorer Barbrook and Woodyard, with the U’s producing the first opening after the restart with De Silva sending a low effort down the throat of Murdock.

This was followed by a promising attack for the hosts as Boateng, Topallaj and Wadham all nicely combined to set up a deep cross from the latter that United were able to head away, before countering quickly down the right-hand side to produce an excellent chance of their own. Koné teed up Tommy Rowe who fired a low shot inches wide of the near post, before Thwaites volleyed down the throat of Sims moments later.

McAllister was then replaced by Samuel Lusale shortly before the hour-mark having gone down with a knock, and was followed by a moment of controversy as Tume could have found himself through on goal to score his first professional goal, but was prevented from doing so after being tugged back by Godwill Kukonki. Despite this, the referee was somehow unmoved, and the U’s had to respond to a subsequent attack at the other end with Thwaites firing just wide.

Sutton did secure a second goal of the evening just minutes later though, with French brilliantly picking out Boateng with 23 minutes to go who made no mistake from close range to give the U’s a two-goal cushion, shortly before turning provider as the hosts scored a second goal in as many minutes.

Tyler Fredricson’s clearance only fell as far as Boateng on the left flank, with the former Millwall man getting the ball under control before sending a low cross which was cleared as far as Wadham by Rowe, who calmly slid the ball past Murdock from the edge of the box to add a third of the evening.

A late change in defence then saw Junior Eccleston replace Kirk in an attempt to see out the clean sheet, although Boateng almost added a fourth moments later when he saw a powerful drive blocked by United captain Fredricson.

This was followed by a half chance for the visitors, with Moorhouse driving forward before picking out Sam Murray, who tested Sims with a low effort that failed to trouble the U’s goalkeeper.

Koné then went close once more with a hopeful drive from distance that flew just wide, but Sutton came even closer to a fourth when Odelusi saw a header brilliantly tipped over the crossbar by Murdock.

Nonetheless though, Sutton had done enough to secure the win, with a semi-final tie now to come.

Sutton United: Sims; Taylor (Kirk 22’ (Eccleston 77’)), Ransom, Muller; French, Barbrook (Wadham 46’), Woodyard (Odelusi 46’), Topallaj; Boateng (Simper 90’), De Silva; Tume

Manchester United: Murdock; Ogunneye, Fredricson, Kukonki (Plunkett 70’), Murray, McAllister (Lusale 58’), Koné, Rowe, Ibragimov, Thwaites (Mills 70’), Moorhouse

Referee: Stephen Parkinson

Attendance: 1,729