A stunning late goal from Richie Smith clinched a hard fought 2-1 win for Sutton Common Rovers first team, making it three wins on the bounce, writes Gary Brigden
SCR made a decent start to the game and in the opening minute a shot by the in-form Francois Gabbidon flew high over the bar, before a decent ball into our area forced a couple of well timed clearances by Sam Blowers and Martin Weighill.
Play became very scrappy before Westfield forced a chance on 10 minutes. A great ball by Phil Moore found Shane Cheeseman, and his volleyed cross was heading towards Kristian Webb, only for the combined efforts of Wright and Weighill clearing the danger. At the other end, Gabbidon and Richie Smith linked up to create a chance for Blowers, but his strike was off target.
The recalled Bowden gathered a low Matt Jackson shot on 17 minutes, and two minutes later Aaron Bogle did well to clear a Westfield cross under pressure from Webb. Smith and Gabbidon then linked up well to create a chance for Botwe but his shot was deflected behind for a corner. From the corner Adams and Weighill attacked the ball powerfully only to see the ball cleared out to Blowers, who again fired wide.
Weighill conceeded a free kick on the edge of the SCR area midway through the half and the curled effort by Webb was comfortably gathered low to his left by Bowden. At the other end and a Smith cross found Liam Holden, but his looped header went over the bar.
Holden fired in a dangerous low cross on 33 minutes, which was well cleared at the front post by Oliver Healeees, and as Westfield broke Weighill did well to prevent Jackson from getting a shot on the SCR goal.
Westfield could have gone ahead ten minutes before the break, when a good cross found Cheeseman, his knock back set up Jackson, who saw his shot blocked behind by a combination of Holden and Weighill and from the corner Webb headed over.
Webb saw his shot on the turn saved by Bowden on 37 minutes, and five minutes before the break a surging run by Gabbidon set up a chance for Smith, but his curled effort went just wide of the left hand post.
Gabbidon then bought a tremendous save out of Stuart Norman when one on one with the keeper, who then did well to gather Botwe's follow up effort. In first half injury time a Pat Kirby free kick was comfortably gathered by Bowden, and the half ended scoreless.
Gabbidon and Adams both went close for SCR in the opening minutes of the second half, without troubling Norman, and two minutes into the half a rare mistake by Dave Burton gifted Kirby possession, and he forced a corner. From the kick, a half cleareance reached Moore, but his strike was comfortable for Bowden.
Westfield should have taken the lead five minutes into the half. Clearing an Adams throw in, the broke quickly with Moore finding substitute Ben Placito, his cross found an unmarked Jackson at the back post, but he could only turn his effort into the side netting.
Adams was denied by Norman on 52 minutes, from the corner Gabbidon looked to have been bought down in the area, but play quickly switched to the other end, where Westfield forced a free kick following a Bogle foul.
Gabbidon and the impressive Matt Steer was involved in a titanic tussle all game long, and on 55 minutes Gabbidon won possession, set up Adams but his shot from a tight angle was saved by Norman.
Placito fired an effort over the bar for Westfield on the hour mark, and on 62 minutes a shot from distance by Adam Bellmaine curled wide of Bowdens left hand post.
Gabbidon linked up well with Smith and Adams, but saw his shot on 68 minutes saved by Norman. Darren Salmon made two changes at this point, with the injured Adams and Botwe being replaced by the returning Manny Quarshie and Andrew White.
Cheeseman put a free header wide of the left hand post on 71 minutes, and a minute later Gabbidon was denied by a stunning save to his right by Norman. SCR finally broke the deadlock on 76 minutes. Holden found Smith, who in turn released Gabbidon, he held off a challenge and fired low beyond the advancing Norman for 1-0.
Westfield responded positively, and an effort by Steer on 77 minutes went just wide of Bowdens left hand post, and two minutes later SCR survived a major goalmouth scramble, which saw bodies thrown into the path of the ball.
The visitors were level though on 81 minutes. A ball into the area from the right bought a decent save out of Bowden, but from the loose ball Ben Placito fired Westfield level.
Two games previously and this would have seen SCR retreat into their shell, but the lads responded positively, and Gabbidon fired an effort wide on 82 minutes. With three minutes remaining though, SCR retook the lead. A ball from Blowers found Smith on the left, he jinked his way passed three challenges before unleashing a stunning curled effort beyond Norman for 2-1.
Deep into injury time and a Westfield corner led to a shot by substitute Vic Kiri being blocked by Bogle and Bowden, as SCR made it three wins on the spin.
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