Trophy Triumph For Sutton Against Brave Worthing

An entertaining game at Gander Green Lane saw Sutton United defeat an excellent Worthing side after extra time, a deflected goal from the outstanding Adam May the eventual difference between the two sides.

The away side initially struggled to deal with United’s high pressing tactics in the first half, causing them to occasionally go long when playing the ball on the ground was their primary strategy. The Rebels weren’t without chances though, Brannon O’Neill seeing a volley from all of 30 yards dip just over the bar. Sutton on the whole had the better of the play though and deservedly took the lead, an effort from Craig McAllister taking a deflection and finding the back of the net. Just five minutes after the goal Worthing thought they had equalised, Corey Heath heading home from a corner. Unfortunately for him and his side the referee disallowed the goal for a foul in the build-up. Realistically Sutton should have doubled their lead just before half time, but after McAllister’s effort was blocked Matt Tubbs fired the rebound over the bar from close range.

The second half saw the U’s continue in a similar vein to the first, and it wasn’t long before their lead was doubled. 10 minutes into the second half the ball was worked to centre back Dean Beckwith on the edge of the box, who hit a delightful curling effort into the top right hand corner of the goal. This was not before a great Worner double save to deny the visitors though. Sutton might have killed the game soon after when Tubbs went through on goal but his attempt to lift the ball over goalkeeper Fagan did not have enough height on it. It was a costly miss as Worthing rallied, with injuries to Dean Beckwith and Simon Downer not helping Sutton’s cause. The signs were there as Worner was forced into another great save to deny Bugiel, but two minutes later former Sutton player Sam Rents got on the end of a cross at the far post to bring his side back into the game. The pressure was relentless and Rents nearly equalised with ten minutes to go, Worner parrying and a defender on hand to clear. However a goal did come after Worthing were awarded a penalty deep into added time, Dawes making no mistake.

Worthing were the better side in the early exchanges of extra time too, Worner once again on hand to make a good save, this time from Bugiel. However a strong spell from United saw them take the lead for the second time. First Fitchett saw an effort deflected inches wide of the post before, minutes later, Adam May hit an effort from the edge of the box that deflected off a visiting defender and zipped into the back of the net with Fagan wrong-footed. The second period of extra time was seen out in relative comfort by Paul Doswell’s men, who could have even extended the lead when Spence fired just over. One last effort from a corner for the Ryman League visitors was sent over the bar as Sutton secured a place in the FA Trophy last 16

Manager Paul Doswell was happy to win, but had bad news with regards to Dean Beckwith:

“I’ve got to give enormous credit to our players”

“When the ref gives Worthing a soft penalty in the 93rd minute most teams would have crumbled, but we just kept going and going and in fact had the better chances in extra time”

“Adam May was sensational tonight for the whole game – for him to get the winner was fitting and he thoroughly deserves it”

On injury problems in the squad

“The biggest blow is Dean Beckwith, as Dean has actually tugged his hamstring…I don’t think he’ll be fit for Sunday”

#SuttonUnited #Worthing