Narrow Defeat At Eastleigh For Sutton

In a close game at the Silverlake Stadium, Sutton were eventually left to rue missed chances in the first half as a breakaway Eastleigh goal on the hour mark condemned them to defeat.

The first 20 minutes saw Paul Doswell’s men apply the pressure, Aswad Thomas having the first real opportunity when he got free from a corner kick but could only head over the bar. Not too long after Kieran Cadogan drove an effort through a crowd inside the box after a cross had only been half cleared, the goalkeeper Graham Stack beaten but Andrew Boyce coming to his rescue, clearing off the line. Jamie Butler in the Sutton goal was little troubled though the intensity of the game fell away after the initially pressure from Sutton, the remainder of the first half passing off largely without incident as both sides grappled for control.

The first chance of the second half went United’s way, Moses Emmanuel beating the offside trap but then taking too long over his shot, allowing the defence to recover and deny him the opportunity. After this point Sutton struggled to create further chances and Eastleigh began to get on top, Williamson missing a golden opportunity to give his side the lead when a goal kick bounced all the way through leaving him with just Butler to beat, but the U’s keeper made a good save to deny him. Soon after Williamson did fire Eastleigh in front however, a powerful Mark Yeates effort initially saved by Butler but the Spitfires attacker was quickest to react to tuck home into an empty net. With Sutton pushing forward Eastleigh were a danger on the counter, Yeates coming close with an effort curled just wide from the edge of the box whilst substitute James Constable hit an incredibly powerful shot into the crossbar, such that it rebounded roughly 30 yards away from goal again. There was one opportunity late on for Sutton, Eastmond doing well to get on the end of a deep cross from Cadogan, but Stack saved his effort well from close range and minutes later the full time whistle was blown

#SuttonUnited #Eastleigh