Maidenhead Visit The Lane After Deadline Day Blow
- Mark Bravery
- Sep 2, 2017
- 2 min read
Having regained top spot in the National League with a Bank Holiday win at Bromley, Sutton United are back at home this Saturday (2 September) when they face Maidenhead United, the side who have just lost the division's top scorer, Dave Tarpey, to Barnet on transfer deadline day.
Tarpey's 44 league goals last season helped propel Maidenhead to the South division title, and he has continued with a further seven in this, the Magpies' first season at the higher level.
Sutton and Maidenhead know each other well from their time together in the South division, and, before that, the Ryman League. The Magpies' last visit to Gander Green Lane was in December 2015 when they drew 2-2, James Mulley and Tarpey finding the net after Tom Bolarinwa had given Sutton the lead, a Craig McAllister penalty rescuing a point for Sutton.
Maidenhead won two and drew three of their seven matches in August, and stand 14th in the table. Their most eye-catching result was a 4-1 victory at the North division champions AFC Fylde, with Tarpey scoring all of his side's goals (including two penalties). They remain undefeated away, but last Monday lost 1-0 at home to Leyton Orient.
Sutton will check on the fitness of centre back Dean Beckwith who has been out with a calf injury, while full back Dan Spence may return after missing the Bromley game through sickness. Forwards Ross Lafayette (knee) and Adam Coombes (ankle) are expected to be sidelined for another week or two.
Manager Paul Doswell has also loaned out a number of attack-minded players to National League South clubs so that they gain playing time: Pape Gueye is at Whitehawk, Jeffrey Monakana and Jack Jebb at Welling, and Bradley Hudson-Odoi at Hampton & Richmond Borough.
Sutton's options up front do include Craig Dundas, Moses Emmanuel and Tommy Wright, with Josh Taylor, Kieron Cadogan and Anthony Jeffrey available to provide attacking support.
Maidenhead are likely to be without striker Jake Hyde because of a hamstring injury.