Injury Hit Sutton Secure Point Against Gateshead
- Johnnie Lowery
- Sep 10, 2017
- 2 min read
Despite a strong performance Sutton were unable to secure victory on Saturday, being held to a 1-1 draw by a resolute Gateshead side.
The game was slightly slow to get going but it was Gateshead who struck the first blow, a loose pass in midfield setting Callum Williams away, with the Gateshead man able to play in Danny Johnson who was brought down by Louis John. The penalty was calmly despatched by Johnson, Butler in the Sutton goal sent the wrong way. U’s responded with Louis John looking to make up for his mistake, his header from a Josh Taylor cross hitting the crossbar with Dundas scuffing the rebound straight into the keeper’s arms. On 28 minutes Paul Doswell’s men were level, again the goal coming from the penalty spot. This time it was Dundas who was fouled, and Simon Walton stepped up to fire home, the keeper getting hands to it but unable to keep it out. Before half time both sides hit the woodwork, first Richard Peniket’s effort for the visitors trickling into the post and away to safety, before minutes later some intricate football inside the Gateshead box allowed Taylor a shooting opportunity, his effort curled into the far post with the rebound just too far away from Kwame Thomas to reach.
The start to the second half was delayed due to heavy rain and lightning concerns, but once play did resume it was Sutton who were well on top. Just 3 minutes after the restart Taylor went on a mazy run beating several players before being denied when he tried to take the ball round the visitors’ keeper. Debutant Kwame Thomas looked to have a great chance after a ricochet put him in, but his touch took him out wide and the Heed defence recovered well to stop him shooting. As the game became more direct there were chances from Louis John from set pieces, the offside flag up on one occasion sparing the centre-back embarrassment after what looked an easy chance was headed wide. Tommy Wright was brought on by Doswell to try and provide a spark in the U’s attack and the young striker nearly did get the winner, firing inches wide when put through by a well weighted Eastmond through ball. Eastmond had an opportunity to win the game himself in the dying moments but was brilliantly denied by Hanford in the Gateshead goal when it seemed the ball was bound for the top corner.