Sutton United V Coventry Copsewood (Division One)

​Sutton United were looking to continue their unbeaten home record at Coleshill Road with a result against Coventry Copsewood yesterday. It’s been an impressive start to the season for the Greens with thirteen wins from fifteen matches in division one to sit in 2nd going into yesterday’s match.  

The hosts were a side in form and were coming off four straight league wins which includes eye catching results against Heather St John’s and AFC North Kilworth over the last few weeks.  

They were looking to build on an encouraging 3-0 away win over Lutterworth Athletic at the weekend thanks to goals from Oli Jeeves, James Spruce and Joe Gildea.  

Coventry Copsewood were looking to build on their 1-1 draw with Kirby Muxloe at the weekend.

The visitors have been competitive this season at step six under the new management team of Carl Nolan, Ryan Baldwin and Ash Bahosten and are going through a rebuild at this level.

Standout results so far include the away win against AFC North Kilworth in August and the back-to-back wins against Stapenhill and Smethwick Rangers to start the season. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Sutton United included Gabe Newey starting in goal and Tom Massey captaining the team from attacking midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Joe Gildea playing up front and being supported by James Spruce and Ollie Burgundy on the wings.

There were two changes from their match against Lutterworth Athletic at the weekend with Joe Gildea coming back into the team and playing as the number nine.

The starting line up for Coventry Copsewood included Logan Elliott starting in goal and Joe Miles captaining the team as part of a back three. The formation looked like a 3-4-3 with Archie Gallacher playing up front and being supported by George Steele and Taylor Blyth on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Kirby Muxloe at the weekend with Alfie Smith coming into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Amrun Sandhu. 

​First Half

Sutton started the match on the front foot and were taking the game to Coventry Copsewood early on. Tom Massy made a promising run into the box before firing over the bar on 3 minutes.

The visitors were working hard off the ball to settle into the match in the opening twenty minutes. The holding midfield of Alfie Smith and Amrun Sandhu did a good job of shielding the back three and made it harder for Sutton to break them down.  

​Joe Miles was leading by example at the back for Coventry Copsewood and helped clear the danger throughout the first half.

The first good chance for Sutton came in the 24th minute when Tom Massy found some space on the edge of the box before squaring it to Joe Gildea whose shot was well saved by Logan Elliott to keep it goalless.

The visitors were struggling to build momentum up front as the first half went on with Tion Pearce impressing at centre back for Sutton. He was alert to the danger and constantly broke up promising attacks for the Greens.

This helped Sutton take control of the match midway through the first half and they found the breakthrough thanks to a moment of quality. James Spruce beat a few players down the left-hand side before finding Tom Massey who fired into the bottom right corner for 1-0 on 28 minutes.

The visitors had a couple of half chances to get back into it with Taylor Blyth finding some space in the box before having a shot blocked on 34 minutes.

Sutton were playing some brilliant football in the closing stages of the first half and made it 2-0 when a well delivered corner by Ollie Burgundy found Joe Gildea at the front post who headed into the bottom left corner on 41 minutes.

Lewis Hayden also impressed for the Greens from holding midfield and helped to build up the play and control the tempo of the match throughout the first half.

Second Half

Sutton continued where they left off in the early stages of the second half and found a quick goal to make it 3-0 and effectively seal the match on 49 minutes. Joe Gildea found some space in the box before producing a classy finish into the bottom right corner.

The Greens looked like a side in form yesterday and looked sharp throughout the ninety minutes.

James Spruce impressed down the right-hand side and was making things happen in the final third. He’s been a good addition to the squad over the last few weeks and gives Sutton that attacking depth going forward.  

Sutton pressed on in the final twenty minutes and were causing Coventry problems in the final third.  

Tom Massey played a good ball to substitute Harry Howard whose shot was well saved by Logan Elliottt who made some crucial saves to keep the score down yesterday.  

Sutton substitute Dylan Green found some space on the edge of the box before finishing into the bottom left corner for 4-0 on 82 minutes.  

Harry Manton cut inside from the right before having a curling shot tipped over the post by Logan Elliott a few minutes later.

Sutton kept going and made it 5-0 near the end of stoppage time when Oli Jeeves produced a quality finish into the bottom left corner in the 93rd minute.

Full Time  

It feels like an important win for Sutton who go top of the table and improve their goal difference.

There’s a lot of the season left but it’s looking like a three-team title race at the top of division one between Sutton United, Gornal Athletic and Knowle.  

It could come down to goal difference, so it was encouraging to see Sutton keep going in the final twenty minutes of the second half.  

It was hard to realistically judge Coventry Copsewood yesterday against an in-form Sutton United side. The visitors competed well with the Greens in the opening half an hour before the attacking quality of Sutton made the difference.  

There were a lot of players who impressed for the visitors though. Ethan Baynham came into the team and looked good as part of a back three. He was clearing the danger and worked hard off the ball. Amrun Sandhu also showed flashes of quality from holding midfield and built up the play well for the visitors.

Upcoming fixtures

Sutton United have a busy run of games over the next month and travel to Birstall United on Saturday before playing Stapenhill at home next Saturday.

They then travel to Coventry Copsewood in the Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup on Tuesday 21st October before playing Ingles (Away) in the second round of the MFL League cup on Tuesday 28th October.

The Greens then have a home match against Wednesfield on Saturday 1st November.

Coventry Copsewood will be looking to bounce back with a home match against AFC North Kilworth on Saturday before travelling to Birstall United next Saturday.

There then at home to Sutton United in the Midweek Floodlit Challenge Cup on Tuesday 21st October before playing Leicester St Andrews at home on Saturday 1st November.

The visitors then have a run of away games in division one against Nuneaton Griff (Wednesday 5th November), Allexton and New Parks (Saturday 8th November) and Knowle (Tuesday 11th November).    

FT score: Sutton United 5-0 Coventry Copsewood

Man of the match: Tion Pearce (Sutton United)

Attendance: 218

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League