Sutton Common Rovers First team bowed out of the Premier Challenge Cup on Tuesday, with a disappointing 3-0 defeat away at Redhill, writes Gary Brigden
The hosts started better, and almost took the lead on two minutes, when a low shot by Alex Rose went wide of Luke Barrett's left hand post. Redhill were completely dominating the opening exchanges, and a couple of efforts from Redhill's playmaker Leonardo Mazzone failed to trouble Barrett, as SCR struggled to get a foothold in the game.
It was no surprise when Redhill took the lead on nine minutes. A deep corner was headed back across goal by Jeffrey Addo-Daokwi and crashed home from close range by Ulric Campbell. A minute later and after a foul by Cameron Gyeabour, on his debut, Chamal Fenelon fired an effort high over the crossbar.
Redhill v Sutton Common Rovers (Premier Challenge Cup) 81 photos
Match photos
Our first purposeful venture into the Redhill half came about twenty minutes into the game, when a neat move involving Harry Smart, Jay Holden and David Thshibongy, almost released Holden but Addo-Daokwi did well to sweep up and clear the danger.
On 25 minutes we were grateful to a well timed interception by Keiran Wright, after Mazzone and Ashley Nicholas had caused problems down our right, and at the other end Holden fired a free kick into the wall, and was then denied by a great challenge by Leavan Sullivan.
Smart found his way into the book for a foul on Mazzone, and from a quick move involving Mazzone and Campbell, we needed a good challenge by skipper Nemo Adams to clear the danger.
Manny Quarshie fired an effort wid from 35 yards late on in the half, and at the other end, Nicholas somehow failed to get anything on a great Luke Turner cross, and the sides went in at the break with Redhill 1-0 to the good.
SCR made a change at the break, with Arnold Okiror replacing David Tshibongy. It was almost 2-0 a minute into the half, but a low drive by Fenelon was superbly turned onto the post by Barrett, who recovered well to block the follow up by Alex Rose.
Fenelon then fired an effort from distance wide of the right hand post, before Redhill made it 2-0 on 49 minutes, when we failed to clear a low cross and Rose fired home from close range.
Holden fired over from 10 yards after decent work by Takui and Smart, and then after Takui had won a corner, Redhill were forced into some desperate defending as we finally mounted some sustained pressure. Our hopes of a comeback were shortlived as on 59 minutes Addo-Daokwi was given a free header from a corner for 3-0.
Okiror and Holden then linked up well, only for Holden's low shot to be fumbled by the keeper with no SCR player on hand to turn the loose ball home.
We made a couple of changes with just over 20 minutes remaining, replacing Sama Olajaweru and Holden with Sam Blowers and Francois Gabbidon and for a spell we actually looked fairly lively, and created a couple of chances. From a half cleared corner, on 78 minutes Richie Monan saw his effort deflected over the bar.
Gabbidon went into the book for a foul on the keeper on 86 minutes and the last real action at either end saw a low shot by Smart being well saved by the keeper.
Full time came with Redhill progressing to the third round and a home tie with Farnham Town.
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