Six of the best as Town sweep aside Sutton to score the century - Match Report & Reaction: NTFC 6 - Sutton Utd 2
Match report by Matt Jones
Nuneaton Town 6-2 Sutton United
(Johnson 11, Williams 17, Hendrie 40, Jeeves (og) 51, Marsden 69, Harrison 84 : Jeeves 31, Massey 53)
Attendance: 489
Nuneaton Town were back at The Oval on Saturday afternoon for the visit of Sutton United, looking to earn a 12th straight league win, against a team that they drew 2-2 with away at the start of the season.
Stuart Hendrie returned to the starting 11, but the same 16 were named as in the win at Cradley Town last weekend.
For the first 10 minutes or so it was Sutton in possession, Town were patient for their chances whilst restricting Sutton's, opting to feel their way into the game rather than going gung ho from the first whistle.
It paid dividends on the 11th minute as Cody Mullan closed down the left backs clearance and the ball ricoched to Danico Johnson who found himself through on goal, he muscled past his defender and went round the keeper to slot home for the opening goal (1-0).
That was league goal number 99 of the season and the Town faithful didn't have to wait long for the 100th, just 6 minutes later good build up play from right to left as Trevor Edwards found Callum Carsley via Aaron Williams, Carsley played a dangerous ball forward to Stuart Hendrie on the edge of the box, and he spotted Williams who had found himself a yard of space on the edge of the box. Williams rocketed the ball into the corner first time for one of the goals of the season so far (2-0).
It looked like it was going to be a comfortable afternoon for Nuneaton, but Sutton had other ideas, Joe Gildea had Sutton's first effort on 25 minutes which was comfortable for Brandon Bache in the Town goal, two minutes later a miskick by Loyiso Recci wasn't punished by the forwards as Dom Perkins did enough to prevent them combining for a goal.
But it was to be a goal back on 31 minutes, as Sam Jeeves picked up the ball on the left corner of the box, and cut inside Recci and slotted into the far corner (2-1).
Sutton had renewed confidence now, and Gildea whistled an effort inches wide of the post on 35, whilst Touaiti fired just over the bar from the right side of the box on 38.
They were to be punished for those missed chances with 5 to go until half time. Johnson was fouled on the right just outside the box. Carsley whipped the free kick to the far post, and Recci's header back across goal saw Somel, Mullan and Hendrie converge on it, but Hendrie got the crucial touch to get it over the line (3-1).
Half time: Nuneaton Town 3-1 Sutton United
The second half started rather poorly for Nuneaton, as Sutton nearly scored in 20 seconds, as Hines caught the defence asleep and beat Bache with his effort but it hit the post.
6 minutes into the half, the scoreline was increased as a Town corner was worked to Johnson, who's cross caused a total mix up in communication between goalkeeper and Oli Jeeves, and he chested it straight into his own net (4-1).
It didn't take long for that error to be rectified as Sutton won a free kick outside the box, and Tom Massey beat the offside trap to plant a free header past Bache (4-2).
Nuneaton were able to ring the changes, and James Spruce, Justin Marsden and James Harrison replaced Hendrie, Johnson and Somel.
On 69 minutes a Carsley clearance down the left was gambled on by the Marsden and keeper. Marsden beat the keeper to the ball, but by the time he'd picked it back up he had 2 defenders on him, Marsden somehow managed to find a gap between the defenders to score an audacious effort with his weaker foot, that went in off the post (5-2).
Gildea had another effort on 76 mins held by Bache, while Callum Thorpe replaced Mullan on 83 mins. Thorpe looked dangerous immediately and created a goal within seconds of coming on, he played a lovely through ball to an open Spruce on the right, and his ball across the box was turned in by Harrison, although it was more of a miskick as it looped in past the wrong footed keeper (6-2).
That proved to be the last significant action of the match, and Nuneaton completed a 12th straight league win in some style, and need just 15 points maximum from their last 7 games to seal the title.
Full time: Nuneaton Town 6-2 Sutton United
Team: Bache, Edwards, Recci, Perkins, Carsley (Lamb 88), Currithers, Somel (Harrison 68), Williams, Hendrie (Spruce 61), Mullan (Thorpe 83), Johnson (Marsden 53)
Subs: Spruce, Marsden, Harrison, Lamb, Thorpe
REACTION
Player coach Justin Marsden shares his thoughts with Matt Jones:
