Sutton Aim For Stones Repeat
- Mark Bravery
- Mar 20, 2017
- 2 min read
Sutton United travel to Maidstone United this Tuesday evening (21 March) in the National League, hoping for a repeat of the success at the Gallagher Stadium last April when a 2-1 win against their then promotion rivals was a memorable milestone on the run to the South division title.
That victory, built on early goals from Dan Wishart and Craig Eastmond, and achieved despite a red card for Kevin Amankwaah before half-time, was played in front of a record crowd of 3,030. Maidstone are expecting another big attendance for this game as they open their new North Stand.
Last year the Stones came up with Sutton by overcoming Truro City and Ebbsfleet United in the play-offs, their second successive promotion. But they have found the going tough at this level and have spent most of the season in the lower reaches of the table. Unlike Sutton, their form on their 3G pitch has been rather disappointing with just six wins from eighteen home league games. Their results overall have picked up lately as they've won three and drawn the other of their last four matches, although they've been without a game since their 4-2 home win over Southport on 4 March.
The Stones drew 2-2 at Gander Green Lane in October's league encounter when Sutton went 2-0 ahead within 25 minutes through Dan Fitchett and Nicky Bailey only to concede a penalty converted by Bobby-Joe Taylor with Jamar Loza equalising just before the interval.
Sutton are currently without a win in four games, having followed two draws with defeats against promotion-chasing Forest Green Rovers and Aldershot Town. They go into this game 18th in the table, their lowest position since August, but four points and one place above Maidstone.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell could restore Dan Spence to the squad after the versatile full-back was rested for the Aldershot game because of a bruised foot.