Two sides, who surprisingly started the day in second and third, look to reclaim their respective spots in what should be an entertaining fixture. Newly promoted Wealdstone will want to revive their excellent form with a sixth league win tonight, after suffering a loss midweek. Precious to that loss, they had won their last four. However doing so will be no easy task, as Sutton have only been bested once so far this season. The U’s also have the fact their defensive record is the joint best in the league to boast about, conceding just five goals as of yet.
Both sides have exceeded expectations, but can one side break away from the other?
Harry Buckett will be taking you through this evening’s action.
Starting Lineups:
KICK OFF Sutton get us going here at The Vale.
4′ GOAL (WLD 0-1 SUT) An early opener for the visitors.
Harry Beautyman’s lofted free kick is not cleared by the Wealdstone defence, allowing Sutton to get a shot away. Harry Isted claws the ball away from the goal-line, after the strike takes a deflection, but Isaac Olaofe is there to smash home a goal on his birthday. Great start to the game.
9′ INJURY Moses Emmanuel goes down with an injury. Worrying for Wealdstone, but Emmanuel insists he can continue.
11′ GOAL (WLD 0-2 SUT) It’s a howler from the keeper.
Isted has the ball in his own box, looking to play it long. Omar Bugiel comes charging in to put pressure on the young keeper, and manages to get in front of the clearance, sending the ball into the back of the net. What a bizarre goal as it goes from bad to worse for Wealdstone.
12′ SUB (WLD) It’s goes from worse to even worse as it turns out Emmanuel won’t be able to continue and is replaced by Kundai Benyu.
17′ Wealdstone not really had much of a look in as of yet, with Sutton in complete control of the game. The way the game has gone so far you get the sense we may be in for some goals tonight.
19′ Sutton nearly making it three following another mistake from Istead. Wealdstone’s number one hits a wayward pass from the edge of the box, straight to the feet of David Ajiboye. He tries his luck from more or less 30 yards out, but can’t quite find the empty net.
21′ CHANCE Michee Efete puts a good ball into the box which is flicked on by the boot of Ross Lafayette. Lewis almost gets a touch on the ball, but Dean Bouzanis is there first and a free kick is given for a foul on the goalkeeper. First time Wealdstone have looked like a threat and they will hope it’s not the last.
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26′ CLOSE How Sutton haven’t scored a third I will never know! Another free kick is sent into the box by Beautyman, resulting in an effort on goal. Istead gets down low to block and a classic goalmouth scramble commences. After some good goalkeeping, Wealdstone manage to clear their lines.
28′ CHANCE Another opportunity for a third goal that hasn’t been taken. Olaofe utilises his pace to break down the left hand side and into the penalty area. His eventual effort hits the side netting, to the frustrations of Bugiel who was unmarked in the box. Had Olaofe slid it across goal, they would be further ahead.
31′ CHANCE And what a chance it was. Beautyman’s cross goes through everyone and forces a save from Istead. The ball falls so invitingly for Olaofe, practically begging him to put it in the net, but he fires high and wide. If Wealdstone can get themselves going, they may live to regret these missed chances
32′ SAVE Bugiel’s header is blocked by Isted, who is really making up for his earlier mistakes. The U’s could easily be four or five goals up by now, they need to become more clinical going forward.
40′ Beautyman has a crack on goal from the edge of the box, however the ball goes curling past the wrong side of the post.
44′ SAVE A perfecly weighted through ball from Robert Milsom sends Olaofe through on goal again. Istead comes rushing out to close down his effort from a tight angle and Okimo is able to clear the ball away for his side.
45′ Benyu and Danny Parrish combine nicely down the left hand side and send a ball to the edge of the box. Danny Green decides to hit it first time and has to watch it sail over the stands.
HALF TIME Wealdstone 0-2 Sutton United
Sutton have dominated the first half of this game, but will know they could have scored a lot more. If Sutton can continue the pressure they have been putting on, and become more clinical, then this game will easily be theirs to win. Wealdstone haven’t had a chance to get going at all, having a couple of half chances, but nothing too close. A big reaction will be needed in the second half otherwise there looks to be now way back.
Beautyman has been impressive for Sutton, with a number of good goalscoring oppurtunities coming from his crosses. Oloafe has also been heavily involved, but hasn’t quite had the end product when it’s come to it. Despite the huge mistake, Istead has been a part as to why his side are only two down, making a couple of decent stops as the half went on.
46′ The hosts get the action going again.
46′ GOAL (WLD 1-2 SUT) What a difference a half time team talk makes.
Wealdstone look like a different side as they attack Sutton straight from the restart. A deep cross is headed across goal by Parish allowing Lafayette to nod into the open net. The seeds have been set for a possible comeback.
50′ Yellow Istead come rushing out to win the ball, way outside the area. His heavy touch allows Olaofe to attempt a chip, but it is blocked by the goalkeepers face. However the shouts of “Handball” from the away side results in the referee showing Istead a yellow card.
56′ This is becoming a very even game now, with Wealdstone looking like they could get back into this game. We are looking at a very entertaining last thirty five. It really is anyone’s game.
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59′ Milsom’s powerfull freekick forces Istead to come out and punch clear.
60′ A good bit of work from Sutton allows Beautyman to get a quick shot away on goal, but Istead isn’t troubled and comfortably saves.
63′ Parrish’s quick feet allow him to break into the box and send across a searching ball. It is met by the head of Ben Goodliffe and cleared for a throw in.
65′ GOAL (WLD 2-2) A brace for Lafayette and Wealdtone bring it level.
An outswinging corner is flicked on across goal and Lafayatte finishes with an acrobatic volley that takes a deflection. Wealdstone have been much the better side this half and are making Sutton pay for all of those missed chances.
66′ YELLOW Davis is shown a yellow card for a poor tackle.
69′ YELLOW Benyu is booked after a challenge from behind on the edge of the box. Sutton have a free kick in a dangerous position, a good chance to put the game back in their hands.
70′ Milsom’s free kick is initially blocked by the blue wall. Sutton come back on the attack and this time it’s Beautyman who has an effort on goal but it’s just agonisingly wide.
73′ SAVE Beautyman strikes a powerful close range volley, which is met by the strong palm of Istead to keep the scores level.
82′ CHANCE Sutton hit the bar.
A fantastic run by David Ajiboye is finished off with a clipped ball across goal which meets the head of Beautyman and goes crashing off the crossbar. So close for Sutton, but it’s surely not their last chance left in this game.
88′ GOAL (WLD 3-2) What a comeback! They have completely turned it around.
Jacob Mendy spots the goalkeeper is way out of position and has an effort from distance that meets the back of the net. The goalkeeper completely caught out, I’m not really sure what he was doing that far out of position. Wealdstone may have just snatched the three points here.
89′ CHANCE Almost an immediate reaction. A small scramble in the Stones box but they eventually clear away to safety.
90′ We will have four minutes of added time
90+2′ Beautyman has a right footed free kick saved fairly comfortably by Istead.
90+5′ GOAL (SUT) OH MY WORD!
A last gasp goal from Sutton has rescued a point. A corner sent to the back post his headed back across goal and met by the boot of Craig Eastmond, sending it into the back of the net. What a finish to what has been a nailbiting game.
FULL TIME Wealdstone 3-3 Sutton United
Both sides will share the points in what was a great advert for National League football. Wealdstone came into the second half with a new found intensity and deserved to get something out of the game. Lafayette was a real key part of their comeback, scoring a second half brace to bring them level. Istead also continued to play his part denying Sutton a number of times in the second half.
The result means that four teams (Sutton, Wealdstone, Maidenhead and Woking), all currently have seventeen points to their name. Sutton move back up the table and into second whereas the result leaves Wealdstone in 4th. It is important to note that due to Covid, many teams have played different amounts of games to each other, meaning lots of sided have games in hand over others.
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