Sutton United V Heather St John's (Division One)

​Sutton United were looking to continue their positive start to the season with a statement result against last season’s runners up Heather St John’s. The Greens won 3-0 against Kirby Muxloe at the weekend thanks to goals from Tom Massey and Harry Manton and were looking to continue that momentum yesterday evening.

Sutton have been building at step six since joining division one two years ago under manager Richard Heath. Encouraging league finishes of 12th (23/24) and 10th (24/25) shows there on an upward trajectory at this level. They also reached the fourth-round proper of the FA Vase last season.

The Greens have strengthened over the summer with the additions of midfielder Ollie Burgundy and midfielder Lewis Hayden to challenge in division one this season.

Heather St John’s were also looking to build on their opening day 5-1 win against Cradley Town at the weekend. The Saints started the season with some momentum thanks to goals from Nathan McGarrity, Jack Hession, new signing Sam Grouse and substitute Gabe Webster.

The Leicester side were one of the standout teams in division one last season and finished in 2nd with 95 points. The won 31 of their 42 matches and notably built on their 8th place finish the previous season. The visitors lost out to Coton Green in the semi finals of the play offs but have strengthened over the summer.

Notable additions include defender Josh Gunn and striker Sam Grouse. They lost top scorer Kyle Jardine to league champions Nuneaton Town but there’s more than enough quality to challenge in division one with the likes of Nathan McGarrity and Haydn Brown impressing last season. 

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Sutton United included Greg Lewis 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 Ollie Burgundy and Dylan Green on the wings.

There was one change from their match against Kirby Muxloe at the weekend with Aiden Mee coming into the team and playing at right back.

Heather St John’s starting line up included Matthew White starting in goal and Jake Conkay captaining the team at right back. The formation looked like a 4-3-3 with Nathan McGarrity playing up front and being supported by Sam Grouse and Haydn Brown on the wings.

There were no changes from their match against Cradley Town on Saturday. 

​First Half

Sutton United started the match on the front foot and were causing problems for Heather throughout the first half. They looked sharp in and out of possession and were moving the ball about with purpose in midfield and down the channels. The holding midfield of Lewis Wall and Lewis Hayden impressed and were controlling the tempo of the match for the Greens.  

​They opened the scoring thanks to a well worked corner where Lewis Hayden delivered a brilliant cross into the box which found Joe Gildea at the back post who made no mistake and headed into the bottom left corner for 1-0 on 11 minutes.

Sutton kept up their momentum and scored again a few minutes later following a free-flowing attacking move into the box. The ball was neatly worked into the box where Harry Manton found some space before squaring it Ollie Burgundy who produced a classy finish into the bottom left corner for 2-0 on 16 minutes.

The Greens were in the ascendancy in the early stages of the first half and put in a statement performance against Heather. Everything was clicking with winger Ollie Burgundy impressing down the left-hand side. He beat a few players before finding Tom Massy whose shot was well saved by Matthew White in the 18th minute.

Heather gradually grew into the game at 2-0 down and created some notable chances in front of goal. The visitor’s best chance came when Sam Grouse made a well-timed run off the shoulder and found some space down the left-hand side. Aiden Mee tracked back and recovered just in time to get something on the shot to stop it finding the bottom right corner in the 30th minute.

Sutton looked well organised at the back with new signing Jake Lamb reading the danger well at centre back and getting some good blocks in.

The visitors had a promising ten-minute spell near the end of the first half which offered a route back into the match. Haydn Brown broke free on the right-hand side before having a shot tipped over the bar by Greg Lewis in the 43rd minute.  

The Greens were clinical in the box and made the most of a set piece to lead 3-0 going into half time. Ollie Burgundy struck a free kick from the edge of the box that found the top right corner. Matthew White was close to keeping it out, but it was a brilliant strike which gave Sutton a commanding lead.

Second Half

Sutton kept up their momentum in the early stages of the second half and were taking the game to Heather. Ollie Burgundy had a shot that just went wide on 52 minutes.  

The Greens were lively in the box all evening and created another notable chance when Ollie Burgundy had a shot well saved by Matthew White on 58 minutes.

The chances kept coming and they scored again in the middle of the second half from a set piece into the box. A corner found Joe Gildea who headed in at the front post to make it 4-0 in the 64th minute.

The Saints showed character in the final twenty minutes and kept going despite the scoreline. They had a brilliant chance when substitute Gabe Webster worked the ball on the edge of the before having a shot well saved by Greg Lewis who tipped it round the post in the 72nd minute.

Sutton had a notable chance to make it 5-0 when substitute Oli Jeeves was through on goal with just Matthew White to beat. His shot was saved by the Saints keeper on 79 minutes.

A key feature of yesterday’s match was how Sutton were constantly pressing Heather high up the pitch. The Greens were causing problems and not letting the visitors play out from the back all evening. They made a few substitutions in the second half, but the pressing was nonstop all game.

The first time the visitors got a foothold in the match was in the last ten minutes where they had a sustained run of pressure on the Sutton goal. They kept going and found the breakthrough when substitute Kye Wooldridge broke free in the box before heading the ball into the net from a free kick.

The Saints pressed on in injury time and scored another goal to reduce the deficit to 4-2. Kye Wooldridge reacted quickest to a ball bouncing in the box and found the bottom left corner.

It’s something to build on for the Leicester side with the substitutions having an impact in the latter stages of the second half.  

Sutton were able to see the game out at 4-2 to keep their momentum going from the weekend.

Upcoming fixtures

Sutton put in a statement performance against last season’s runners up and looked sharp yesterday. Their upcoming fixtures includes matches against Ingles (Saturday, Home) and Bilston (Next Wednesday, Away) over the next week.

Their schedule also includes upcoming home games against Smethwick Rangers (Saturday 16th August) and Knowle (Tuesday 19th August) at Coleshill Road.

Heather struggled against Sutton last night but It’s a long season and it might take some time before things start to click.    

If they can build some momentum over the next few months the Leicester side can challenge at the top end of the table. They created some decent chances against Sutton which is encouraging for their upcoming games and Sam Grouse looked an attacking threat.   

The visitors will be looking to bounce back against Wednesfield (Away) on Saturday. Their upcoming schedule includes Ingles (Away) next Tuesday before home matches against Coventry Copsewood (Saturday 16th August) and Nuneaton Griff (Tuesday 19th August).                          

FT score: Sutton United 4-2 Heather St John’s

Man of the Match: Ollie Burgundy (Sutton United)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League