Gomis 4 Kedwell 69 pen
Wellard 7
Sutton finished off an unsettling week in terrific style on Saturday as they produced one of their best performances of the season to pick up arguably their best win of the season against a side that had also had an eventful week as manager Jamie Day reshuffled his Ebbsfleet squad in an effort to haul his side back in to the promotion race. For Sutton the need for points was to keep clear of concerns at the other end of the table, but out of the blocks quickly they were two up before ten minutes had been played, and although suffering the latest in a lengthening list of penalty awards for which the description 'soft' could have been invented, which allowed Ebbsfleet back in to the game just as their second half pressure seemed destined to subside, they held on, avoided the late goal that had blighted so many performances earlier this season, and were deserved winners.
Much had been made of Ebbsfleet's high-profile recruitment campaign, not to mention the release of several players who have always played well against Sutton, but U's manager Paul Doswell had also had an active end to the week, with Aaron Howe arriving to take over the goalkeeper's shirt and Dan Fitchett joining from Aldershot, while Damian Scannell returned on loan from Bromley. All three were in the starting line-up, Howe following Warren Pritchard, David Shepherd and Anthony Blunt in playing at first team level for the club that their fathers managed, and it was Scannell, a popular member of last season's squad, who made the immediate impact, helping create the two goals which gave U's such a barnstorming start. The first goal suggested that maybe the luck that has so deserted U's at times this season was beginning the evening-up process, as there was more than a suggestion of handball by Craig Dundas in the build-up, but after Dan Wishart, playing at left back, had found his way blocked he laid the ball back to Scannell, whose perfect cross was met by Bedsente Gomis with a header that flew in to the roof of the net. Three minutes later Scannell attacked from left to right before playing the ball wide to Ricky Wellard, and the midfielder cut in and hit a left foot shot that found the far corner of the net.
Sutton seemed to have weathered the storm, but then Collins was adjudged to have pushed Lewis from the back as they contested a loose ball on the left of the penalty area. It looked a soft penalty, and the decision to book Collins looked even harsher, but Danny Kedwell hammered the penalty in to the roof of the net and the visitors had hope. Minutes later they might have been level, but Howe, who had enjoyed an impressive debut in goal, dived to his left to keep out a header from substitute Adam Cunnington. At the other end Fitchett and Scannell combined well before the latter's cross was met by Fitchett's firm downward header, and this time Edwards was the goalkeeper diving across to save. Ebbsfleet tried to exert pressure as time ran out, but showing determination and commitment to the cause Sutton defended well when they had to, Howe was relatively untroubled, and the victory was deservedly celebrated.
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