Sutton Common Rovers turned in their most complete performance of the season to see off Chessington & Hook Utd on Saturday, writes Gary Brigden
SCR started brightly and debutant Takui should have opened the scoring in the opening couple of minutes after linking up well with Francois Gabbidon. Chessington's Kyle Green almost capitalised on a long ball out of defence, but Leigh Bowden was out smartly to collect.
On six minutes Gabbidon and Andrew White again linked up well to set up Takui, but his effort was deflected behind for a corner, from the corner Chessington only half cleared the danger, and when Aaron Bogle found Gabbidon, he beat a couple of challenges before crossing to White who fired home from close range for 1-0.
Chessington almost levelled four minutes later when a free kick by David Amoah was spilt by Bowden, and hooked clear by Bogle. From the corner again SCR struggled to clear, but eventually Dave Burton hooked the ball away.
SCR still had the upper hand, and White almost found Gabbidon on 13 minutes, but Chessington cleared, only to Blowers and a couple of strikes by the midfielder saw them blocked.
Chessington's mounting injury list grew when a ball over the top by Scott Harrison almost set Green away, but the forward went down injured after a challenge by Burton, and had to be replaced. Shortly after Burton put in a tremendous challenge on Chessington's Amoah to prevent him from levelling the scores.
Back at the other end and a great run and cross by White was met with a powerful Gabbidon header, bringing a tremendous save out of Ian Hewitt in the Chessington goal.
Harrison headed an effort wide for Chessington on 24 minutes, and a couple of minutes later the same player headed a dangerous Liam Holden free kick out of the Chessington area. SCR increased their lead on 28 minutes. Firstly a ball into the area was heading towards White who went down under pressure. Holden gathered the loose ball and whipped in a dangerous cross, and this time White was on hand to head beyond Hewitt for 2-0.
Titre-Wilson almost got Chessington back into the game a minute later, but after weaving passed a couple of players his low cross was cleared by Adams. From the throw in Sam Hewitt's monster effort almost reached the SCR back post, but was eventually scrambled clear.
SCR increased their lead on 35 minutes, when Gabbidon robbed Duke midway inside the Chessington half and raced clear, before calmly slotting beyond Hewitt for 3-0.
Hussain fired an effort just over for Chessington, and Gabbidon really should have made it 4-0 but dragged his effort wide of the right hand post with only Hewitt to beat. Five minutes before the break and Hussain should have bought Chessington back into the game, but only succeeded in firing his effort well wide of Bowdens left hand post.
Holden bought a good save out of Hewitt from close range, before firing the rebound wide, and at the other end, Bowden saved well from Matthew Ellis, before Listower Appiah poked home the rebound, only to see his celebrations halted by an offside flag and half time came with SCR 3-0 up.
Chessington started the second half brightly, no doubt fired up by a half time roasting, and in the opening seconds Amoah was denied by a great block by Burton. They then forced a free kick just outside our area, and from Ellis's dangerous delivery, Bowden got underneath the ball, before recovering to grab in the end.
Gabbidon was denied on 48 minutes by a good save one on one by Hewitt, but from the quickly taken corner by Richie Smith, Liam Holden saw his shot somehow get through the keeper at his near post for 4-0.
Ellis hit the left hand post for Chessington and Tyrone Newton fired the rebound wide, as the visitors looked to get back into the game.
SCR made their first change on 50 minutes, welcoming back Arnold Okiror, in place of the injured Takui. Gabbidon should have made it 5-0 on 52 minutes, but having put Hewitt on the floor, he somehow fired over with the goal at his mercy. White had an effort saved by Hewitt on the hour, as SCR continued to hunt goals.
Chessington to their credit did not give us and after great play by Hewitt, Newton looked like he had to score, only for a great challenge by Anson Cousins clearing the ball out for a corner. From the corner, another Newton strike was deflected behind by Holden. Substitute George Osbourne, then fired wide of the SCR post, as Chessington looked for a route back into the game.
White headed a tremendous Cousins cross just over on 66 minutes, before Gabbidon battled through a couple of challenges and rolled the ball beyond Hewitt for 5-0.
With 20 minutes remaining SCR made their final changes, with two goal heroes White and Gabbidon being replaced by Richie Monan and Harry Smart. With 15 minutes remaining, Hewitt again did well, this time to deny Holden after the SCR skipper had link up well with Monan and Smith.
Smith completed the scoring on 76 minutes racing clear and firing beyond the exposed Hewitt, before at the other end Bowden twice saved point blank efforts from Ellis, before the ball finally was stabbed wide by Duke.
Chessington had a couple of chances from deadball situations, but Ellis fired over and Appiah crashed an effort into the wall. Smart bought a save out of Hewitt late on and Smith should have scored when he sat the keeper down, only to chip the ball into his hands.
Full time came with SCR's most convincing win of the season.
It might seem churlish to be critical after a 6-0 win, but we have cut things mighty fine with regards to relegation in previous years, and goal difference has proved an important factor. We could and should have scored more, hopefully that will not come back to haunt us.
For the record, the last time we hit six in a league fixture was in October 2012, when we won 6-0 away at Eversley & California in Division 1 (we have scored six twice in CCL Premier Division fixtures, back in the 2010/11 season, when we beat Bookham 6-1 and Dorking 6-3 both at home)
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