Sutton came away from The Woodspring Stadium with all three points settled by two strikes midway through the first half, both of which may find themselves come the end of the season on the shortlist for goal of the season.
The first notable event of the match occurred on 10 minutes as Tristan Plummer picked up a loose ball to rifle in a shot from just outside the box that 'keeper Ross Worner was able to block with a diving save to his right, the ball looping back into the air with Tsvetan Filipov and Dean Beckwith both trying to outjump each other to head the ball inside the box, the home player falling to the floor looking for a penalty but referee Dan Leach waving away the appeals.
Worner was called into action to continue his recent fine form as Plummer let fly from 25 yards out and saw Worner equal to the effort with a one handed save to turn the ball away from the goal, the ball though did not go out and Filipov arriving at the back post was unable to control the direction of his shot as the ball harmlessly flew wide.
Sutton eventually played their way into the game and broke the deadlock on 22 minutes as a Craig McAllister lay-off found Ross Stearn down the right wing, his penetrating cross into the home box saw Weston’s Joe McClennan manage to head the ball clear, but the clearance was picked up by Bedsente Gomis just outside of the centre circle. Gomis managed to weave his way through two challenges and get just enough space and time to send a powerful shot inch perfect into the far top corner from 25 yards out, beating the despairing full length dive of Weston keeper Luke Purnell.
Weston players heads dropped and Sutton’s confidence was boosted as they became the team to play the passing football and it was not long before the lead had been doubled as Craig Eastmond fed a pass into Tom Bolarinwa midway inside the Weston half. Bolarinwa came inside one challenge then back out avoiding a second before hitting a rasping 25 yard low shot that curled away from the full-length dive of Purnell to nestle in the far bottom corner of the net. The midfielder tried his luck again on 33 minutes with an almost identical effort from just outside the box that crept just wide of the far upright. A loose ball across the back by Weston defenders on 42 minutes was picked up by Gomis, the effort from 20 yards out comfortably saved by Purnell and the final action of note in the first half saw Stuart Fleetwood pick up a Bolarinwa through ball but curling a shot high and wide of the goal.
Sutton came out for the second half appearing to be set up more defensively and wanting to control the game more. A lovely pass by Fleetwood on 47 minutes found Stearn’s run down the left wing, Stearn’s attempted cross-cum-shot across the face of the six yard box nearly picked out the arriving McAllister but Purnell was able to pluck the ball out of the air just before it could reach the striker. Bolarinwa then managed to thread the ball into the Weston box finding Stearn’s overlapping run, the shot from the Sutton winger from 15 yards out only just evaded the far upright. Sutton though that they had scored the third on the hour as Fleetwood cut inside his marker to pick up a Gomis pass, but he was unlucky to see his chip go wide via the post.
Sutton took off both wingers on the hour mark which squeezed the game further and the game became a fairly dour stalemate played mainly in an area either side of the halfway line. The game opened up again with fifteen minutes left as Dean Beckwith was injured in a 50/50 challenge and with both sides having already made their three subs, Beckwith was forced to play the remainder of the game up front and Sutton reshuffling at the back that allowed the hosts a few sights of goal.
Dayle Grubb collected a through ball by Filipov and floated a deep cross to the back post that Worner was able to collect ahead of the incoming Scott Wilson at the back post, then Wilson lashed a shot high and wide after a mistake by Kevin Amankwaah before Worner saved from Bradley Ash's header after Grubb had again crossed, but the home side were unable to make any impression on Sutton's lead.
Korboa almost turned provider on 38 minutes as his intelligent ball on halfway got a completely free Miller away down the left. The winger managed to cut into the Worthing box but his eventual shot rattled Banks’ near post.
The last good chance of the half fell to Jack Barnes but Colqhoun managed to parry his effort from 20 yards away off target.
HALF-TIME: 2 – 0
We came within the width of a post of extending our lead yet again on 48 minutes. Adriano Moraes headed a corner delivery back into the visitor’s six yard box and Alex Penfold flicked the ball against the far post.
Worthing made two substitutions and changed their shape on 51 minutes, and by 53 minutes they’d reduced the arrears. Colqhoun managed to save a Brannon O’Neill free kick but Will Hendon reacted quickest to the loose ball and fired home from a tight angle.
Sean O’Toole was introduced for the injured Korboa shortly before we probed forward on 58 minutes. Pigden was finally fouled 20 yards from goal but Summers’ placed effort cannoned back off a post.
The two sides were exchanging attacks now but both keepers were brave in amongst crowds of players at different times to keep the score at 2-1.
Summers was left frustrated again on 75 minutes after he ran clear on a Bradford flick-on, only for the linesman on the far side to belatedly raise his flag about 15 seconds after the pass was made.
And things got worse a minute later as Ben Pope performed an overhead kick on a lofted ball from 10 yards out and beat Colqhoun all ends up. The opportunism was to be applauded but the fact he was left free to do it didn’t impress our management team.
O’Toole and fellow sub Gary Elphick tangled 35 yards from the Worthing goal and earned themselves a booking each, while Summers tried his luck on the free kick but it kept rising and cleared the crossbar.
Our opponents were now on the front foot however and both Moraes and Downs made good blocks in our area with five minutes to go.
But, as the game entered stoppage time, a long ball out the Worthing defence had O’Neill running from deep and he got between Moraes and Penfold. Colqhoun came rushing out to the edge of his box to meet him, but O’Neill nodded the ball over the keeper and the pace of the ball beat Paris Hamilton-Downes, whom was trying to chase it down.
Next up: We travel Faversham Town on Tuesday 22nd September before it’s FA Cup on Saturday 26th September as East Thurrock United visit. We take on Molesey at home on Monday 28th September.