Darren Salmon made several changes to the Sutton Common Rovers side beaten by Colliers Wood Utd, with the injured Anson Cousins and Harry Smart missing, Manny Quarshie dropping to the bench, and David Burton and Mitchell Sutherland being left out. Into the side came Jay Holden, Francois Gabbidon, Nick Wightwick, Peter Song and Sama Olaweraju," writes Gary Brigden.
SCR almost fell behind on the opening attack of the game, when Viktor Okanado skipped passed Olaweraju on the right, delivered a low cross to Ali Wiltshire, who somehow fired wide from 10 yards. We responded well and on three minutes a long throw into the Vale area was only half cleared to Wightwick on the edge of the area, but his effort curled high over the crossbar.
SCR were probably having the better of things in the opening exchanges, and apart from a few balls into our area, which were comfortably dealt with by Martin Weighill, it was SCR who looked the most likely to open the scoring. On 10 minutes a ball from the back by Andrew White found Holden, he set up Song, but his effort was well saved by Sam Filler in the Vale goal.
Gavin Dilley did well to turn a fierce low strike by Reece Turner wide of the post on 14 minutes, and from the resulting corner we were grateful to a timely block by Nemo Adams on an Okanado strike.
A minute later and Dilley did well to save a low Wiltshire strike, with Olawejaru on hand to clear the danger as Wiltshire hunted the loose ball.
Vale were on top at this stage, and it was little surprise when they took the lead. Gabbidon saw a shot saved by Filler, Vale broke quickly, and with the SCR defence scrambing to get back, the danger looked to have been averted as Olawejaru held up Okanado. He though poked the ball through to Wiltshire, who fired a tame effort goalwards, somehow Dilley allowed the effort through his legs and Vale were in front.
It was 2-0 almost immediately, when another long ball split open our backline, and as Dilley advanced from his line, Connor Turner reached the ball first to lob over the advancing keeper.
At this stage SCR were all over the place defensively, whilst offering little in the form of attack, and only just holding their own in the middle of the park. It was as poor a performance as you are likely to see.
Wightwick, Song and Richie Monan linked well on 25 minutes and forced an SCR corner, but the delivery was poor, and Vale broke quickly, and only a timely interception by Olawejaru prevented Wiltshire from making it 3-0.
Vale were continuing to dominate, and looking as though they could score at will, and made it 3-0 on 40 minutes. A long ball over the top found Reece Turner, he held off Adams, before being hauled down by White for a penalty. From the kick Dilley got a hand on Turner's effort but not enough to keep it out.
SCR responded positively, and after a foul on Wightwick, and free kick was floated in by Smith, headed goalwards by Weighill, and somehow turned round the post by Filler. From the resulting corner, Vale cleared and broke quickly. Jack Williamson released Okanado, and he lobbed Dilley from 30 yards, to effectively seal the game.
We have, as a club, turned in numerous truly awful performances, and as a half, this was up there with worst of them.
Wightwick and Smith linked up well on 50 minutes, and Smith's low cross was volleyed wide by Holden. SCR made two changes on 57 minutes, with Song and Wightwick being replaced by debutants Nathan Motley and Rob Hughes, and SCR continued to look to get back into the game. A minute after the change Olawejaru did well on the left and won a corner, Smith swung it in, and Weighill's shot through a crowd was saved by the keeper.
A minute later and Filler did well to sweep up ahead of the on-rushing Gabbidon, after a long ball over the top by Monan. SCR made their final change with 25 minutes remaining, with Gabbidon making way for Quarshie, and the change had an almost immediate impact.
Quarshie was fouled by Mark Waters on the left, Smith swung in the free-kick, and Weighill, who had looked dangerous from set plays, powerfully headed beyond Filler for 4-1.
Okanado fired over on 70 minutes after a long ball from Filler had been flicked on by Reece Turner. Filler gathered a dangerous in-swinging free kick by Smith, as SCR looked for the boost of a second goal. A minute later and a mazy run by Smith ended with a soft shot that was comfortable for Filler.
Vale were seemingly content to let SCR continue to have the bulk of second half possession, and with a comfortable lead, they never really needed to exert themselves, in fact they almost restored their four goal advantage on 78 minutes, when Marcus Dowdeswell release substitute Jerome Smart, but he was denied by the advancing Dilley.
Dilley saved well from Paul Roberts on 88 minutes, before Vale rounded off the scoring with a sublime lob by Reece Turner.
For SCR it was a truly awful performance, and one that harked back to the efforts of three seasons ago. I for one do not want to go through that again. Was there any silver lining from the game? Well, you don't get relegated after two games, and that's about all I can come up with.
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