MATCH REPORT

SENSATIONAL SUTTON SMASH SIX PAST NOMADS

Fresh from their top of the table battle against one Cambridge side, Sutton welcomed another one from Cambridge in the form of Nomads this week. With the same settled squad as usual, the only thing left to sort was the pitch – and in no small part to the work of Luke Proctor, Jack Smith, Jeremy Smith, McKenzie East, Josh Baker, Luke Jackson and Michael Donaghy the leaves were off the pitch and the game ready to be played!

With the message to continue from where they left off, it could not have been a better start for Sutton when in the space of 5 minutes Jackson found Stef Fox on the overlap who won a short corner – which was then duly dispatched on the rebound by Daniel Batten to open the men in green's account. After 10 minutes, when the ball fell to Jackson out wide, he rocketed the ball into the D, where Alex Canham was ahead of his marker to guide the ball into the back of the net to double the lead. The second goal seemed to wake Nomads up a bit, who started to prod and probe forward – however any and all attacks were easily dealt with by the stalwart defence of Alfie Braginton, Ben Hales, Tom Baguley, Si Clarke and Fox. In fact, despite the pushing by the away team it was a shock to most members on the field and the spectators when not only Baguley, but Clarke also went on what some might rightly call a nosebleed inducing run in the half.

With 10 to go in the half, you may be forgiven for thinking that Sutton might step back and see the lead into the break – however if you did then you haven't been watching our games recently and with the foot on the accelerator Sutton saw no need to relent. This was exemplified perfectly after some neat work between the brothers White in the middle of the park, Will danced around a defender or two before finishing strong to open his account for the year and set a healthy 3 goal gap up. This quickly became four, when after Jackson once again found Canham in the D, he slotted the finish through the keepers' legs to extend the lead further. The only blemish in the half ended up being a green card to Clarke, which saw him hobble off and eventually home to protect his dancing feet for later that evening!

After a short break to collect any thoughts and get drinks on board, the second half started. With Sutton 4-0 to the good, it was no surprise that the tempo slowed a touch as the game became less about scoring and more about control. Eddie Hales kept up his smart running and hold up play he ably demonstrated in the first half, and Troy Croxford found himself emulating his favourite Liverpool idol in James Milner more than he thought he would by playing 5 different positions in one game by filling in at left back for the injured Clarke.

Sutton never looked in trouble during the half – with the one foray up into their half being well saved by Braginton – and whilst conserving legs with a bare 11 players the main aim of the game became injury prevention. Chances still came and went to the Green Army however, and it was no surprise when Jackson got his 4th assist of the day sliding a lovely ball through to Batten with around 20 to go, and with just a few minutes left Canham turned provider for MOTM Batten who ran out wide (even with Schrodinger's Hamstring!), turned his defender inside out and slotted into the far corner to complete his hat-trick and leave the score at 6-0 to the good.

The Green Army now enjoy an extra day's rest before picking up sticks on Sunday to face their third Cambridge side in a row in what promises to be a good battle against a strong University side, hoping to maintain their 3-point lead at the top of the table. On we go!