Sutton Common Rovers first team made history recently with their win against Worthing United, writes Gary Brigden.
An Andrew White strike early in the second half was enough to put SCR into the second round of the FA Vase for the first time in the club's history
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SCR made the trip to the south coast to take on Worthing Utd from the Southern Combination Premier Division, in this first round tie. Arriving at the ground, the lads took in the tribute wall for the two Worthing players who tragically lost their lives in the Shoreham Air Show disaster, and there was a moment of reflection.
SCR started the game fairly brightly forcing an early corner after a decent run by Hamilton Antonio, and from this Richie Smith fired an effort wide of the left hand post. Worthing were playing some neat football, without really troubling the SCR backline, although Aaron Bogle had to be alert to deal with a dangerous ball by Lawrence Edwards as it headed towards Titus Paterson on the left.
The in-form Francois Gabbidon had a low shot comfortably gathered by Matt Evans on seven minutes, and at the other end a good ball by Edwards found Worthing skipper Dan Taylor, he whipped over a dangerous cross but Bogle did well at the back post to clear.
Back at the other end, and on eleven minutes a great move involving Richie Smith, Gabbidon and Liam Holden eventually saw Holden volley wide of the Worthing left hand post.
The game became very scrappy, although Worthing created a chance for the dangerous Sam Blundell on 15 minutes, but SCR's Nemo Adams marked closely and the shot deflected harmlessly back to Leigh Bowden. Evans then did well to deny both Gabbidon, and a fierce Smith drive.
SCR were forced into their first change on twenty minutes, when Todd Sullivan replaced the unwell Dave Burton.
Worthing were showing lots of neat touches in the middle of the park, and from one move, a ball from Matt Fleming found Taylor on the right, and his low cross was gathered by Bowden. The game though, on the whole was generally quite a scrappy affair, with sides only keeping the ball for fleeting moments, rather than any lengthy spell of possession or pressure.
Gabbidon bought another good save out of Evans, after he had got the better og Grant Philpott in the left hand channel. At the other end, and a good ball by Hall found Paterson, and his cross towards Blundell was well dealt with by Adams, and as Worthing regained possession, Paterson fired an effort behind for a goal kick.
Paterson did well on 38 minutes, when he wriggled passed the challenges of Bogle and Andrew White, only to see his low cross-shot deflect back to Bowden for a comfortable gather. Holden almost got on the end of a low Antonio cross on 41 minutes, but Worthing scrambled the ball clear, and half time came scoreless.
SCR started the second half brighly, and both Gabbidon and Holden had chances to open the scoring before White struck in the 48th minutes. Antonio won possession for SCR just inside his own half and found Smith, he saw the run of White, who sped beyond the Worhing backline and rolled the ball under Evans for 1-0.
SCR were now on top, and Gabbidon almost got away again, but was well defended by Philpott. Back at the other end and neat play by Paterson almost set Blundell away but Bogle cleared the danger, and then a suging run by Antonio set up Gabbidon, but he fired wide when well placed.
Bowden had to be out sharply to prevent Paterson getting in on goal after SCR had been caught over-playing at the back, and then Blowers did well to clear a Blundell cross from the head of Matt Fleming. From the loose ball though Paterson saw his shot turned off the line by Anson Cousins. Midway through the half and a drive from Pat Rose flew over Bowden's crossbar as Worthing enjoyed their best spell of the game.
Gabbidon fired over with 20 minutes remaining, after a Bogle throw had been flicked on by Holden, and Antonio sliced a shot wide after Gabbidon had done well on the left.
Bowden gave the SCR supporters a fright with 15 minutes remaining when he spilt a routine ball into the area, forcing the SCR backline to scramble clear (in his defence the big keeper did claim it had been punched out of his hands, but play went on, and we hurried to clear).
SCR made there second change on 77 minutes, with Danny Fernandez replacing the hard-working Gabbidon. Rose fired an effort over from just inside the area with just under ten minutes remaining, and SCR made their final change with White making way for Richie Monan. Bowden gathered an Edwards header as Worthing pushed for an equaliser. Neat link up by Hall, Joseph and substitute Dave Marsh led to a dangerous ball into the area, but an errant Worthing hand relieved some of the pressure.
Fernandez had a chance to seal the game in injury time, when a ball over the top set him free, but Philpott got back well to deny him and Antonio forced a good save out of Evans, as SCR ended the match in the Worthing half.
Today's draw has seen SCR paired at home to the winners of AFC Croydon Athletic or Beckenham Town, as the two Southern Counties East side need to replay after a 2-2 draw in the first game.
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