Match Report and Reaction: Sutton United (A) 2-2 - 13/08
Baker keeps unbeaten run going - Sutton United 2-2 Nuneaton Town
Match report by Matt Jones
Nuneaton Town were looking to add to their perfect start to the season at Sutton United on Tuesday night. In came Alfie Birta for Keenah Rosser, with Trevor Edwards moving to left back, while up front James Harrison who impressed at Wednesfield started instead of Harry Jackson.
Both sides started the game pretty evenly on the 3G surface. And it took until 12 minutes for the first shot on target to come, Aaron Williams curling an effort from the edge of the box into the keepers gloves. Two minutes later Sutton got through but their shot was well wide.
By 19 minutes though Nuneaton were starting to dominate the chances, firstly Louis Baker showed his class flicking a cross round his defender and shooting towards the near bottom corner but the keeper anticipated it well and pushed it round the post excellently. Cody Mullan scuffed a shot wide just two minutes later.
It didn't take much longer to get ahead. A poor pass from the Sutton keeper on 22 mins found Mullan who 1-2'd with Baker before finding Danico Johnson, and his shot was deflected onto the crossbar and bounced just behind the goalline. Mullan headed it in anyway to be absolutely sure, but with no goal line technology at this level the debate may go on as to who scored! (1-0)
Nuneaton finished the remainder of the half with the better of the chances, Johnson having a shot deflected wide on 29 mins, Baker with a couple of chances on 32 mins, and Liam Daly getting another effort that Sutton managed to deflect wide just before half time.
Half time: Sutton United 0-1 Nuneaton Town
The second half started disastrously for Nuneaton, as within 2 minutes Sutton were level. A pass down the left got the attacker away, and Brandon Bache's efforts to get to the ball before the Sutton forward failed, and it was rolled home on the angle. (1-1)
On 54 minutes a crunching challenge from the number 5 in green on Cody Mullan escaped a red card with a yellow awarded, and it proved to be decisive. After 3 subs were made, Justin Marsden for James Harrison, then Harrison Bruce for Alfie Birta, and Dec Somel for Cody Mullan, Sutton made Nuneaton pay for their missed chances on 75 minutes. A shot from them was excellently tipped round the post by Bache, but from the resulting corner the Sutton player found the bottom corner with a header (1-2).
Harry Jackson came on for Danico Johnson as Boro looked to get back on terms. Sutton though were using every trick to try and run down the clock. It proved futile as a Jackson cross on 89 mins from the left was headed back to a totally free Baker, who chested and volleyed home to the delight of the travelling support (2-2).
Boro pushed for the winner as Williams headed an inch over the bar from a corner, and Baker tried to catch the keeper out from outside the box. Danico Johnson was booked on the bench on recommendation from the assistant referee in the final seconds, but Boro couldn't get the winner and level it finished.
Nuneaton stay unbeaten despite dropping their first points of the season, and results elsewhere meaning they drop off the top spot. But showed character to fight for the point late on.
Full time: Sutton United 2-2 Nuneaton Town
Att: 473
NTFC Team: Bache, Birta (Bruce 67), Daly, Recci, Edwards, Currithers, Mullan (Somel 70), Williams, Harrison (Marsden 60), Baker, Johnson (Jackson 79)
Subs: Rosser, Somel, Marsden, Jackson, Bruce
REACTION:
Joint manager Darren Acton commented about the game:
'First half we didn't dominate it but we had a lot of chances to put it to bed really. We didn't put our chances away and that means we go in at half time 1-0. 2nd half we came out we didn't look right, they started to battle with us, we started to battle with them, I think we just lacked that little bit of desire 2nd half.'
On the defence, Edwards playing left back as a right footer:
'At the moment we're playing with 2 right footers on the left, we are trying to get a left footer in, to balance the left side we do need a left footer in there. No disrespect to Trev (Edwards) he did a great job in there tonight, but we do need one to go out there and be better.'
On the last minute goal to stay unbeaten:
'It just shows what a team spirit we've got, we never stop til the last whistle. We went 2-1 down, we didn't give up, we huffed and puffed and in the end the goal came and I think it was a fair result. I think they (Sutton) will be up there this season as well.'
On the challenge on Cody Mullan:
'From what the lads were saying it was a sending off, but that's football, the ref isn't going to see everything. The lads and crowd think it was a sending off but he's got away with it and that's the level we're at and the level of referees we're going to come under.'
On preparing for the upcoming home game v Ingles on Saturday:
'I've just said to the lads we'll have a light training session Thursday, going to work on set pieces as that's where I think we need to touch up on, obviously we've not done a lot of training with the games coming thick and fast. Saturdays game we know a bit about them (Ingles), they're a big strong team, so on Saturday we've got to be good at set pieces, so I think that's what we're going to be working on.'
