Sutton United were looking for a statement result in the FA Vase against UCL Premier Division North title challengers Bourne Town yesterday. It’s been a brilliant run for the MFL Division one side so far with away wins against the likes of AFC Wulfrunians, Tividale and Winsford United. Their home form had also been impressive with seven wins and two draws from thirteen league matches raising hopes of causing an upset against the step five side. The management team of Richard Heath and Liam Burke have done a fantastic job of getting Sutton United into the fourth-round proper of the FA Vase in their debut season with yesterday serving as a celebration for how far the club has come within the space of a few years. Bourne Town have been one of the standout teams at step five this season and are challenging Eastwood FC for the UCL Premier Division North title. The Wakes have been one of the standout teams in the UCL this season with sixteen wins from twenty-one matches and the best defensive record in the division with just 17 goals conceded. Pre-match The programme on offer was informative and well put together for supporters of both clubs. It included a history of both Sutton United and Bourne Town along with a history of the FA Vase. The weather conditions were challenging throughout the afternoon with frosty winds and low temperatures in Sutton Coldfield. Full credit to the supporters who turned up yesterday with both sides bringing a good following and creating a brilliant atmosphere. Starting line ups The starting line up for Sutton United included Greg Lewis starting in goal and Tom Massey captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Reece Gibson leading the line up front and being supported by Abdul Touaiti and Leyton Hines on the wings. There were five changes from their league match against Kirby Muxloe last weekend with Joe Gildea coming back into the team and playing in the number ten role. Bourne’s starting line up included Daniel Swan starting in goal and Robbie Ellis captaining the team from holding midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Tom Siddons playing as the main striker and being supported by Zak Munton and Zac Allen on the wings. There were three changes from their last league match against Harrowby United a few weeks back with Martin Tudosa coming into the team and playing at right-back. First Half Bourne Town got off to a fast start inside the opening fifteen minutes. A well worked corner found Richard Jones who headed into the bottom left corner to make it 1-0 in the 10th minute for an early lead. The visitors had a lot of the ball in the early stages of the first half with Sutton looking to catch them out on the counter attack. The Wakes were causing Sutton a few problems with Zak Munton looking a threat on the left-hand side and Tom Siddons making some promising runs into the box. Sutton showed character to stay in the match at 1-0 down and gradually grew into it as the first half went on. Matt Bishop was reading the danger well at centre back and made some big clearances to keep it at 1-0. There was an unfortunate injury to Reece Gibson in the middle of the first half for Sutton who had to be replaced by Jack Skinner up front. The MFL side started to take the game to Bourne after twenty minutes and created some notable chances in front of goal. Abdul Touaiti looked a threat on the right-hand side and was making things happen in the final third. He beat a few players before having a shot saved by Daniel Swan in the 23rd minute. Jack Skinner made the most of his opportunity for Sutton and was constantly pressing the Bourne defence in the first half. He made some clever runs off the ball to create space for Sutton and was holding up the play well to bring players into the game. An inviting ball into the box found Jack Skinner who managed to get free in the box before laying the ball off to Joe Gildea near the edge of the box. The Sutton striker made no mistake and produced a quality finish into the bottom left corner to make it 1-1 in the 27th minute. Bourne Town were able to regroup following the equaliser and gradually started to reassert themselves on the match. Brad Marshall was defending well at the back and closing players down to stop promising attacks. Shaun Archer also worked hard to break up the play from holding midfield to stifle some of the Sutton momentum. Tom Siddons produced a classic strikers’ goal to make it 2-1 to Bourne in the 40th minute to give the visitors the lead. He reacted quickest to a second ball in the box before finishing into the bottom left corner. Sutton kept going at 2-1 down near the end of the first half and continued to take the game to Bourne Town. They found a moment of magic when Leyton Hines produced a quality finish into the top left corner to make it 2-2 a few minutes before half time. Second Half Sutton United carried on the momentum they had at the end of the first half and were moving the ball around brilliantly. A free-flowing passing move found Joe Gildea who had a shot instinctively saved by Daniel Swan in the Bourne goal that looked destined for the top right corner. The visitors produced a moment of quality to take the lead a few minutes later. Martin Tudosa made an impressive run down the right-hand side and found some space to put a cross into the box. He managed to find Tom Siddons who produced a clinical header into the bottom left corner to make it 3-2. Bourne started to take control of the match in the second half and looked a threat up front thanks to the pace of Zak Munton and Zac Allen down the wings. They also offered a threat from set pieces and came close to sealing the match through a couple of dangerous corners. Similar to the first half, Sutton showed resiliency to stay in the match at 3-2 with a chance of getting back into it late on. Greg Lewis looked assured in goal and Matt Bishop and George Ray were defending well at the back to keep Sutton in it with fifteen minutes to go. The MFL side were moving the ball around with purpose and created some good chances in front of goal. Joe Gildea made a brilliant run into the box before Dan Swan read the danger and made a save to keep it at 3-2. Another chance came when a promising corner found substitute Reiss Hick at the back post who couldn’t quite get his effort on target for the equaliser. Bourne were able to find the crucial goal to seal the match a few minutes before full time when Zak Munton beat a few players before crossing into the box. Greg Lewis was able to get the ball away, but the rebound fell to substitute William Bird who produced a composed finish to make it 4-2 late on and seal Bourne’s progress to the fifth round proper. Full Time Regardless of the result, yesterday was a day of celebration for Sutton United who reached the fourth round of the FA Vase in their debut campaign. The Greens are a club on the up and this match showed why. They competed well with an in-form Bourne Town across the ninety minutes, and it came down to fine margins. They did themselves proud against a tough opponent yesterday. Bourne Town reach the fifth round proper for the first time in their history. Full credit to the visitors who started in the First Qualifying Round and have won six matches to reach the last sixteen of the competition. Like Sutton, the Wakes are a club on the up and one to watch within the world of non-league. FT score: Sutton United 2-4 Bourne Town Man of the Match: Tom Siddons (Bourne Town) Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League Comments are closed.
|
MFLThe official news channel of the Midland Football League (founded 2014) Archives
February 2025
Categories |