Sutton Start Against The O's
- Mark Bravery
- Aug 3, 2017
- 2 min read
Sutton United kick off their 2017/18 National League campaign this Saturday (5 August) with a keenly anticipated match against Leyton Orient, relegated to this level after finishing ten points adrift at the foot of the Football League last spring.
This will be the first senior fixture between the two clubs, and Orient's first game as a non-League outfit since 1905. The match has been selected for live broadcast by BT Sport and will kick off at 12.30pm.
Although non-League might seem like a come-down for Orient, who two years ago were a penalty shoot-out away from competing in the second tier of English football, O's fans are thankful that they still have a club to support after two turbulent seasons under the ownership of Italian businessman Francesco Becchetti who got through nine managers during his time at the helm. Now with new owners, who have appointed former Crewe manager Steve Davis as head coach, the club is on a more stable footing.
Sutton will be hoping to improve on their recent dire record in opening day fixtures, having lost their first league match in each of the previous six seasons. After finishing a respectable 12th last season, their first back at this level after a sixteen-year absence, United have increased the size of their squad to cope better with the rigours of the nine months ahead.
However, Sutton manager Paul Doswell already has injury concerns. Goalkeeper Ross Worner could miss the whole season because of a snapped cruciate ligament, so former Hemel Hempstead stopper Jamie Butler has been drafted in as cover. Defender Simon Downer and wide-man Bradley Hudson-Odoi have missed all of the pre-season programme. Recently-signed winger Anthony Jeffrey picked up a knock in last weekend's friendly against Chelmsford, although Sutton have Kieron Cadogan, Jeffrey Monakana and Moses Emmanuel as options in the wide positions. Striker Adam Coombes injured his ankle earlier in pre-season, so new signing Josh Taylor, who trialled with Orient this summer but wasn't offered a contract, could get the nod to start up front alongside ex-Dover man Ross Lafayette.
The Orient squad includes experience in forward David Mooney and midfielder Jobi McAnuff who both returned to the club in the close season. Another player who could face Sutton is talented teenager Tristan Abrahams who has just signed for Norwich but been loaned back to the O's for the season. The main goal threat could come from striker Macauley Bonne, signed from Colchester United but with loan experience at National League clubs, who has scored five times in pre-season.
After Saturday the games come thick and fast, with Sutton travelling to big-spending Eastleigh on Tuesday evening (8 August). United have lost on their previous four visits to the Silverlake Stadium. Last season they went down 2-1, their consolation goal being scored by Ross Stearn, who subsequently joined the Spitfires, and suffering the agony of a late Bedsente Gomis penalty being saved by the home keeper.