Sutton United V Knowle (Division One)

​Sutton United were looking to continue their impressive start to the season with a result against newly promoted Knowle. The Green Army were coming off five straight wins and had one of the best defensive records in division one with only three goals conceded. They sat 2nd going into yesterday’s match and were level on points with league leaders Gornal Athletic who had a better goal difference.  

Knowle have also enjoyed a brilliant start to the season with three wins from their first four matches in division one. The Robins were sitting in the play off places coming into yesterday’s match and have adapted well to step six football. They were coming off an eye catching 6-2 win against Lutterworth Athletic at the weekend and were looking to keep their momentum going with a statement result against Sutton.

It felt like a big match yesterday and an impressive attendance of 315 supporters turned up and made a brilliant atmosphere at Coleshill Road.

It’s brilliant to see both Sutton and Knowle build a dedicated fanbase over the last few years with a commendable number of supporters turning up for a mid-week match at step six.    

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Sutton included Ben Harrison starting in goal and Tom Massey captaining the team from attacking midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Joe Gildea leading the line up front and being supported by Harry Howard and Dylan Green on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Smethwick Rangers at the weekend with Lewis Hayden coming back into the team and playing in holding midfield alongside Sam Jeeves.

Knowle’s starting line up included Oscar Slater starting in goal and George Seeley captaining the team from attacking midfield. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Mark Webster playing up front and being supported by Talib Copeland and Odane Barnes on the wings.

There were three changes from their match against Lutterworth Athletic at the weekend with Guy Clark coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Ricardo Dudley. 

First Half

The match got off to a cagey start inside the opening twenty minutes with the chances limited in front of goal.

Both sides were well organised off the ball and limited the space to build attacks from. Lewis Hayden did a good job of breaking up the play for Sutton and was constantly winning the ball back to give them a foothold in the match.

​The visitors were doing a good job of pressing high up the pitch to stop Sutton playing out from the back in the first half. Talib Copeland looked a threat down the left-hand side and was taking players on for the Robins.

He had a good chance from a well delivered corner and found some space at the back post. He made a good run into the box but couldn’t quite connect with it on 21 minutes.

The visitors enjoyed a twenty-minute spell of momentum where they were asking questions of Sutton United in the first half. They were moving the ball about well and looked a threat going forward. Their best chance came when Odane Barnes played a chipped ball into the box that found George Seeley who headed over the bar on 35 minutes.

Sutton showed character throughout the first half to not allow an easy opening for Knowle and stood up to the pressure. Matt Bishop read the danger well at centre back and was dominant in the air to help Sutton settle into the match in the first half.

Knowle shaded the first half but were mainly limited to half chances in and around the box.

The visitors looked like a side in form in the opening 45 minutes and played some brilliant football.

Dylon Bennett was starting off attacks from holding midfield and helped them build up the play. Guy Clark also defended well at the back and helped to clear the ball away from danger.    

Neither side could find the breakthrough in the first half, and it remained goalless going into the break.

Second Half

There were a couple of notable changes for Sutton at the start of the second half with Ollie Burgundy coming on and being moved to the number ten role. Dan Wootten also came on and played on the left wing.

Knowle also made a few tactical changes with Md Shimul bought on for Mark Webster and moving to the right-hand side with Odane Barnes playing up front as the number nine.

The visitors created a clear-cut chance to take the lead when Odane Barnes was through on goal with Ben Harrison to beat. The Sutton keeper stepped up and made a crucial save on 56 minutes to keep it at 0-0.

Sutton were playing on the counter attack in the second half and looked to stretch the Knowle defence thanks to the pace of substitutes Ollie Burgundy and Hayden Froggatt up front.

They created a decent chance on the hour mark when Dan Wootten found some space on the edge of the box before having an effort go wide of the right-hand post.  

Knowle also looked a threat at the other end and came close from a couple of set pieces into the box. Md Shimul struck a volley on the edge of the box that was well saved by Ben Harrison in the Sutton goal.    

Dan Wootten looked a threat for Sutton down the left-hand side and was making things happen in the final third. He found some space in the box before having a shot well saved by Oscar Slater on 72 minutes.

Another player who stood out for Sutton in the second half was right-back Aiden Mee who did well to contain the attacking threat of Talib Copeland. He also looked a threat going forward and was making things happen for Sutton.

He was fouled near the corner flag and an incident off the ball sparked a coming together on 84 minutes. Talib Copeland picked up a second yellow card and George Seeley was sin binned for Knowle which left them holding on for a point going into stoppage time.

It looked like the visitors did enough for a point before Sutton were awarded a dramatic late penalty when Callum Scott bought down Aiden Mee in the box deep into injury time. Hayden Froggatt stepped up and sent his spot kick into the bottom left corner to spark bedlam in the Sutton end for their sixth straight win.

Full Time

Sutton showed a lot of character to get the win last night and kept going against Knowle for the three points. They stepped up when it mattered with Ben Harrison making a huge save to deny Odane Barnes at the start of the second half. Matt Bishop and Lewis Wall also defended well at centre back to help them settle into the match.   

Knowle put in an encouraging performance despite the result and there were a lot of positives to take from it. There’s a lot to build on and they took the game to Sutton in the opening hour. To have ten points from their opening five matches at step six with only three goals conceded is a brilliant start for the Robins.      

Upcoming fixtures

Sutton travel to league leaders Gornal Athletic on Saturday before playing Stapenhill (Away, Bank Holiday Monday), Birmingham OJM (Home, Tuesday 2nd September) and Nuneaton Griff (Away, Saturday 6th September) over the next few weeks.

Knowle have a huge match against Coventry Copsewood (Home) in the FA vase on Saturday before matches against AFC Bridgnorth (Home, Bank Holiday Monday), Saffron Dynamo (Away, next Saturday) and Ingles (Home, Saturday 6th September) over the next couple of weeks.       

FT score: Sutton United 1-0 Knowle

Man of the Match: Matt Bishop (Sutton United)

Attendance: 315

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League