A Hamilton Antonio goal early in the second half sealed all three points for the Sutton Common Rovers first team in a hard fought win over Badshot Lea, writes Gary Brigden
Burton denied Coventry after he almost latched onto a Bowden spill from a cross. Our first chance game eight minutes into the game, when the recalled Richie Monan released Francois Gabbidon, but he was well marshalled by Keieran Maylen at the heart of the Badshot defence.
Gabbidon fired an effort straight at Josh Peckham on nine minutes, and at the other end, Nemo Adams did well to clear from Paul Coventry after Bowden and Aaron Bogle had almost been caught out overplaying in their own area.
Bowden gathered well on the quarter hour from a low Coventry shot and a minute later, with the visitors pushing for the breakthrough, Muir saw an effort saved by Bowden, as it skipped off the turf.
Anson Cousins fired an effort wide on 18 minutes after picking up the ball just outside of the Badshot Lea area and Badshots Muir was denied by Bogle after a great touch in the area had set him up for a strike on goal.
Midway through the half and the visitors were given the chance to go ahead when a low cross was handled by Cousins. Palmer stepped up and although his strike was good, Bowden got down well to his right to turn the shot away, with Adams quickly in to clear the loose ball. George Jones then fired a free kick from a tight angle into the side netting.
Holden whipped in a good cross on 35 minutes after good work by Sam Blowers and Bogle, but no one was on hand to apply a finish and minutes later a Monan strike from distance was comfortable for Peckham. Half time came scoreless, with SCR having the elements slightly in their favour in the second half.
Muir fired an effort at Bowden in the first minute of the second half, before SCR took the lead on 49 minutes. Richie Smith turned Deane Sumbler inside and out before his low cross was turned goalwards by Antonio, and although Peckham blocked the first effort Antonio followed up to smash home the rebound for 1-0.
Smith and Holden then combined on 10 minutes, with a quickly taken corner, only for Smith's cross to drift just over the bar, with the Badshot Lea defence scrambling. Muir then did well for Badshot Lea, picking up the ball after an SCR attack had been stopped and driving forward, only to be bought down by Blowers, who went into the book for his efforts (but probably a good one for the team).
From the free kick, Bowden got down well to his left to turn a Mason Saunders effort wide of the left hand post. From the corner, the ball dropped to Darren Blake, but his effort from close range was superbly kept out by Bowden.
Bowden saved well low to his left from a Palmer shot on the hour, with Monan clearing the danger. SCR made their first changes on 62 minutes, with Andrew White replacing Blowers.
Holden fired wide on 65 minutes after Gabbidon had been denied by a combination of Maylen and keeper Peckham and three minutes later, a dangerous corner by Holden was headed wide at the back post by Cousins.
White clattered into Peckham on 72 minutes, earning a talking to from the referee but nothing more (and massive credit to the Badshot Lea keeper both for not making a meal of it, and saying he had no issue with the challenge as the ball was there to be won). Well done to Brent Wallage who came on to treat the injured keeper.
Muir fed Saunders on 79 minutes, but he fired high over the crossbar, and a minute later Bogle did well to intercept a Badshot through ball, SCR broke quickly and the White / Antonio link up forced a corner. From the corner both Adams and Antonio failed to hit the target with their efforts.
Blake and Muir then combined well for Badshot, but Blake's effort was straight at Bowden.
Danny Fernandez replaced Antonio with five minutes remaining, and Gabbidon saw an effort save on 87 minutes after he had glided passed three would be challenges. SCR made their final change in injury time, with Gabbidon being withdrawn and replaced by Harry Smart, and the final chance of the game looked likely to fall to Smart, but he was denied by a tremendous last gasp tackle by Muir.
Full time came with another hard fought SCR win.
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