Sutton Set Sights On New Cup Glory
- Mark Bravery
- Jan 4, 2017
- 2 min read
Sutton United hope to write another page in their illustrious FA Cup history this Saturday when they take on League One side AFC Wimbledon in the third round of the Emirates FA Cup (kick-off 3pm).
For the only local derby in the entire round, an all-ticket capacity crowd of around 5,000 fans will be at Gander Green Lane. This will be Sutton's biggest attendance since at least April 1993, when an officially recorded 5,002 saw them lose 4-0 to Wycombe Wanderers in the second leg of the FA Trophy semi-final.
This is Sutton's fifth appearance in the Cup's third round, and the first since January 1994 when they lost 3-2 away to Notts County. Victory would see them progress to the fourth round for only the third time in their history.
Sutton and AFC Wimbledon have previously met only in friendly matches and the Surrey Senior Cup, although the original Wimbledon FC beat Sutton 4-2 in the 1963 Amateur Cup final at Wembley.
Sutton were both hosts and opponents for the newly-formed AFC Wimbledon's first ever match, a friendly on 10 July 2002, which followed the controversial decision to relocate Wimbledon FC to Milton Keynes. A crowd of 4,657 saw Sutton win 4-0 but the result was immaterial; what was important was that the fledgling club had raised a team and played a game against senior opponents. They were soon admitted into the Combined Counties League and worked their way up through the non-League pyramid, winning the Conference play-offs in 2011 to take their place in the Football League. Five years later they won the League Two play-offs and so gained another promotion. They are currently thirteenth in League One.
AFC Wimbledon reached this stage of the Cup by beating Bury 5-0 in a home replay, following a 2-2 draw at Gigg Lane, then National League North side Curzon Ashton 4-3 away, a match in which the Dons overcame a 3-0 deficit by scoring four times in the final eleven minutes.
Sutton's path to the third round saw them beat Forest Green Rovers 2-1 at home (final qualifying round), then Dartford 6-3 away, then Cheltenham Town 2-1 at home.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell has an almost fully fit squad for Saturday, with recent absentees Dan Spence and Kevin Amankwaah expected to be available to fill the full back positions. Left back Ben Jefford was injured in last Sunday's win over Bromley, but he is cup-tied in any case, as are forwards Craig McAllister and Craig Dundas. New signing Jeffrey Monakana is eligible to play, but his lack of match fitness is likely to mean only a place on the bench. Striker Matt Tubbs will hope to start against one of his previous clubs. Goalkeeper Ross Worner is also a former AFC Wimbledon player.
Saturday's date, 7 January, is a significant one for Sutton is it was on that day 28 years ago that they famously beat Coventry City in this round of the Cup.
Highlights of the game will be shown on BBC1's Match of the Day at 10.30 on Saturday evening.