Sutton Utd 2 Hampton & Richmond 2
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- Created on Thursday, 12 January 2012 21:41
- Written by Rob Overfield
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Beavers Fightback for Valuable point
Despite having to come back from behind twice, the Beavers took their chances to gain a valuable point against a high-flying Sutton team that was reduced to 10 men on 55 minutes with defender Obamwonyi behind dismissed after fouling Charlie Moone in the box, writes Rob Overfield.
Before the game, Mark Harper signed stiker Adam Thomas to Conference forms and brought in midfielder Esmond James (not James Esmond as the Sutton announcer would have it!). James came in for a start up front with Thomas having to settle for a spot on the bench. Lewis Ferrell somewhat surprisingly had declared himself fit for the game after spending a couple of days confined to bed.
As early as the 6th minute, Billy Jeffreys had the ball in the net, but it was chalked off for a foul on the keeper, but it was a clear indication that Beavers were up for the game. However, 10 minutes later the boys could have been easily a goal down as an error by Ferrell letting in former Beavers striker Craig Dundas through on goal, but an alert Craig Ross dived out and blocked the shot with his legs.
On 24 minutes though, the U's took the lead as the defence was caught out by a flicked header, which Joel Ledgister controlled in a little space to finish past Ross. It was unfortunate that the hosts took the lead as the Beavers had looked well in the game, and 10 minutes later they nearly got back into it. A long throw from Matt Ruby came back to the Beavers captain, his wicked cross was met at the near post by Charlie Moone but the header glanced wide of Scriven's post.
It could have been all square at the break as a JJ O'Donnell cross was controlled by a Sutton player on the ground as the ball clattered around the box, handball was suspected but the referee waved play on.
Just before the players went off, a clearly suffering Lewis Ferrell was withdrawn in place of Tom Hickey.
HT Sutton 1 Beavers 0
At the opening of the second half, Charlie Moone nearly started the Beavers fightback, as he took a pass from James Simmonds, swiveled and struck an accurate shot which Scrivens pushed wide.
When an equaliser finally came for the Beavers it was deserved. A golf-like sliced attempt at a clearance flew back into the box as Simmonds looked to capitalise by finding Moone. Moone was about to shoot, with the goal at his mercy, when Obamwonyi tugged the striker back. The referee, who was partially unsighted, relied on his assistant on the near side to confirm the foul challenge, and having no option, dismissed the defender from the fray. James Simmonds placed the ball on the spot and rammed the ball into the back of the net.
Parity was short lived for the Beavers as just 8 minutes later, another flicked header again went through the centre of the defence, and it would have to be Ledgister who fired the ball past Ross with some ease.
Credit to the team, they started to make the advantage count and on 73 minutes, a JJ O'Donnell cross had the defence in trouble and Charlie Moone deflected the ball past Scrivens as they converged on the ball.
The last 15 minutes saw both sides look for a winner. Ledgister met a wicked Griffiths cross with a powerful header, forcing Ross to stand tall and make a point-blank block with 10 minutes to go, and Louis-Rae Beadle narrowly sent a late header wide as the game drifted to its conclusion and a point for both sides.
Sutton Utd 2
Ledgister 24, 66
HRBFC 2
Simmonds 56 (P)
Moone 73
Att: 529
Ross, Ferrell (Hickey 45), O'Donnell, Jeffreys, Ruby (C), Andrews, Collier, Huggins, Moone, Simmonds, James (Beadle 75).
Sub: Thomas, Morgan, Sousa-Mota
