Sutton Common Rovers first team slipped to a second straight defeat, when a disappointing performance slump to a 5-2 loss at a resurgent Spelthorne Sports, writes Gary Brigden.
We responded well, with some good work between Richie Smith and Sam Blowers almost setting Francois Gabbidon away, but he was well marshalled by Adam Turner and the chance went begging.
Spelthorne took a firm hold on the game, with two goals in the space of five first half minutes. Firstly right back Billy Roach picked up the ball just inside our half, drifted passed a couple of challenges and crashed a hopeful effort goalwards from 35 yards, only to see it nestle in the back of the net. Then on the 15 minute mark a huge ball by turner found Flatman, and although Luke Barrett saved his first effort, the keeper was powerless to stop the rebound being tapped home.
We again responded well, and after Andrew White and Richie Smith had linked up well, a ball into the Spelthorne area was hooked over the bar by Harry Smart. Back at the other end, a mistake by Martin Weighill saw Flatman steal possession off him on the dead ball line, square to Mur who somehow fired against the bar from close range.
Spelthorne then had a goal disallowed on 24 minutes, when Flatman got beyond Dave Burton and was pulled back for a foul, which looked pretty harsh to be honest. We were almost back in the game a minute later when Gabbidon burst beyond Tanaka Gaboaza, and was hauled back in the area, he stayed up rather than hitting the deck, poked the ball to Smart who fired wide (lets be honest, most players would have hit the deck).
Liam Holden fired a free kick over the bar on 26 minutes, after Sam Blowers had been on the receiving end of a Joe Goodman elbow. Two minutes later and another Holden free kick found Weighill, but he could only direct his header over the bar.
SCR were having their best spell of the half, and on 33 minutes a Smith cross found Holden and his looping header went over Buss, but hit the crossbar before being cleared. At the other end a good ball by Gaboaza found Lee Staples, but his cross went beyond everyone and out for a goal kick.
White forced a comfortable save out of Buss on 37 minutes, and the same two were involved on 41 minutes with the same outcome. Holden and Weighill then did well to prevent Flatman getting a shot away after good play by Staples.
Turner then picked up a booking for dissent, which probably should have come back to haunt him later in the game, but didn't. Half time came with Spelthorne two goals to the good.
SCR should have been back in the game just two minutes into the half. A long through ball by Weighill found White, one on one with the keeper, but the wide man's effort was poor and drifted harmlessly behind for a goal kick.
SCR were starting to dominate proceedings and on 51 minutes a good shot by Smart was turned behind, somewhat unconvincingly by Buss. At the other end a decent ball by Goodman almost set Flatman away, but Burton defended well and cleared the danger.
Mur fired a low shot across the face of goal on 53 minutes, before SCR were back in the game on 57 minutes. A long ball over the top by Holden found Gabbidon, and he fired beyond Buss for 2-1. Turner thwarted his attempts at a quick retrieval of the ball, by launching it to the corner flag - but a word was deemed sufficient by the referee, Turner could consider himself a lucky boy, as a referee who was sterner may well have issued a second yellow.
Any hopes of an SCR revival were dashed two minutes later, when a clearly offside Flatman picked up the ball, rounded Barrett and rolled home for 3-1, much to the amusement of the Spelthorne fans who acknowledged it was an awful decision.
Darren Salmon responded with a triple change, replacing Smart, Rouse and White with Adams, Quarshie and debutant Jordi Ndozid.
Barrett saved well from Gaboaza on 63 minutes and two minutes later a deep cross by Flatman almost found Mur, but we survived the effort, and were still in the contest.
Gabbidon almost pulled another back on 66 minutes, when he reacted quickest to a Quarshie flick on, only to see Buss save his effort, and at the other end a low cross by Flatman almost found Luckins, but his effort was blocked by Blowers.
Flatman headed over on 72 minutes, and a minute later he almost set up Luckins, but his effort rolled wide of the right hand post. Gabbidon then got beyond Turner, looked to be hauled back by the defender, but nothing was given, despite the frontman's protests.
Vickery thumped one beyond Barrett in the 84th minute to make it 4-1 and in stoppage time good work by Luckins set up Conor Moody who made it five.
Deep into injury time and a Smith corner was forced home by a mixture of Gabbidon and the defender, but it was too little too late, and Spelthorne eased to a 5-2 win.
After a fine win away to fellow Vanarama National League South opposition on Saturday, Sutton will have to repeat the feat in the third qualifying round of the Emirates FA Cup after being drawn away to Hemel Hempstead Town today. The sides are also due to meet this weekend in a league game, with Hemel currently in 7th place, two points ahead of Sutton. That has been based very much on their away form, though, with all three of their league defeats coming at their Vauxhall Road home, including one against U's victims on Saturday, Bishop's Stortford. The tie will be on Saturday 10 October.
The teams met in the 4th qualifying round two seasons ago when Hemel were in the Southern League, U's going through with a 2-0 replay win at home after an exciting 3-3 draw at Vauxhall Road, while last season Hemel controversially knocked U's out of the FA Trophy by a late penalty after Bedsente Gomis had been sent off, a decision subsequently rescinded. Ironically Gomis will be suspended for this season's cup tie, and any replay, following his red card at Ebbsfleet.
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