Sutton United V Leicester St Andrews (Division One)

Sutton United were looking to build on the positives of their loss to Bourne Town in the FA Vase with a result against play off chasing Leicester St Andrews. It’s been a positive season so far for Sutton who are looking to challenge for a top half finish over the next few months. The Greens have also got an eye catching MFL league cup tie with Atherstone Town next week.   

Leicester St Andrews were looking to build a run of form to challenge for the play offs. The Drews were only two points off Cradley Town in 5th coming into this match and have a good opportunity to get in the top five if they can finish the season strongly. The visitors have been a good addition to MFL division one and are in the hunt for promotion if they can string some results together.  

The atmosphere at Coleshill Road was friendly and welcoming prior to kick off. The facilities are impressive for the level and both sides bought a decent following for a mid-week game in January. It’s well worth a visit for casual groundhoppers across the West Midlands.  

​Starting line ups

The starting line up for Sutton United included Aidan Jeynes starting in goal and Matt Bishop captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 4-2-3-1 with Joe Gildea leading the line up front and being supported by Leyton Hines and Joe Delaney on the wings.

There were eight changes from their FA Vase match against Bourne Town with Reiss Hick coming into the team and playing at centre back alongside Matt Bishop.

Leicester St Andrews’ starting line-up included Luke McAdam starting in goal and Marco Henry captaining the team at centre back. The formation looked like a 3-5-2 with a front two of Josh Crossley and Greg Mills being supported by Jake Warren in the number ten role.

There were four changes from their last league match against Birstall United on Boxing Day with Dean Clark coming into the team and playing in holding midfield. 

​First Half

The match got off to a lively start inside the opening twenty minute with several chances for both sides to take the lead.

Sutton had a good chance to make it 1-0 when a brilliant ball into the box by Leyton Hines found Joe Gildea who had a shot hit the right-hand post and go out of play.  

Leicester also had a good opportunity to take the lead when Josh Crossley found some space in the box before having a shot go wide of the far post. Greg Mills also had a shot hit the post for the visitors a few minutes later.

The match started to settle down in the middle of the first half and the chances in front of goal became more limited. Matt Bishop and Reiss Hick were defending well at the back for Sutton and worked hard off the ball to stifle some of the Leicester momentum.  

Leyton Hines had a good chance for Sutton where he was free at the back post before having a shot go wide.

The Greens were applying pressure on the Leicester goal in the latter stages of the first half and found a breakthrough when substitute Tom Massey found Joe Delaney on the edge of the box. He made no mistake and produced a quality finish into the bottom right corner to make it 1-0 with a few minutes of the half left.

Leicester St Andrews were working hard to stay in the match with Dean Clark and Ethan Ballantine breaking up the play from holding midfield to give them something to build on going into half time.

Second Half

Sutton managed to make it 2-0 at the start of the second half thanks to a quality counter attacking goal. They found some space on the break before a neat passing move saw Joe Delaney race clear down the left-hand side. He accelerated into the box before unleashing a quality strike into the top left corner.

Leicester St Andrews showed character from 2-0 down and kept going in the second half in search of a way back in the match. Dean Clark was building up the play well from holding midfield and starting off attacks down the channels.

With the likes of Josh Crossley and Greg Mills up front, the Drews had a chance of coming back if they could build some momentum.

The visitors made a crucial substitution in the middle of the second half which changed the pattern of the match. They bought on Liam Canavan to shore up the midfield and stifle some of Sutton’s momentum going forward which helped them get on the ball more.

Leon Fray also impressed for the visitors at centre back and was reading the danger well to give them a chance of getting something late on.  

Sutton United still offered an attacking threat through Joe Gildea who was doing well to hold up the play and bring players into the game.

The Greens got a bit deeper in the second half and looked to catch Leicester out on the break thanks to the pace of Joe Delaney and Harry Howard.

There was a good chance for Leicester to pull a goal back in the middle of the second half when a dangerous corner into the box found Ethan Ballantine who put his header wide of the far post.

The Drews had a good fifteen-minute spell in front of goal in the latter stages of the second half and were getting into some threatening positions in and around the box. They were duly rewarded when Greg Mills produced a good finish across Aidan Jeynes into the bottom right corner to pull a goal back.

Leicester had the momentum late on and Greg Mills made the most of a rebound to finish at the near post to make it 2-2.

The chances for a late winner were limited going into stoppage time and it finished with both sides taking home a point.

Full Time

Sutton United will feel a bit disappointed not to get the three points having been 2-0 up in the second half. None the less, it’s a good point against a play off chasing team and they created numerous chances in front of goal which is encouraging.

It’s a squad full of quality with Matt Bishop impressing at centre back and the likes of Joe Gildea, Leyton Hines and Joe Delaney providing them with an attacking threat up front. A top half finish is a realistic aim and something to build on going into next season.

Their upcoming fixtures include Saffron Dynamo (League) and Atherstone Town (MFL League Cup) at home before playing Heather St John’s (Away) and Gornal Athletic (Home) in the league over the next few weeks.

Leicester showed character from 2-0 down in the second half and battled back to get what could be a valuable point in their hunt for the play offs. The Drews have quality up front thanks to Josh Crossley and Greg Mills.

There’s also a lot of hard work that goes on off the ball to keep them in matches which should serve them well over the next few months.             

They have a huge match against Cradley Town (Away) on Saturday before playing Chelmsley Town (Home), Smethwick Rangers (Away) and Coton Green (Home) over the next few weeks.  

FT score: Sutton United 2-2 Leicester St Andrews

Man of the Match: Joe Delaney (Sutton United)

Match report written by Rhys Beardmore for the Midland Football League