MATCH REPORT

Sutton travelled to St Ives, keen to avoid the fate that had befallen them the last three times these sides had met.

The game could not have started better for Sutton when in the first minute Jason Mallet found Alex Canham whose looped shot over the keeper nestled in the net. This stunned the home side and their watching fans, who had yet to take their seats; something they didn't do all game. Chances fell to Ben Shore, Jason Mallet and Canham, whose finish would have been more at home at Twickenham, but the score remained 1-0. St Ives then found their rhythm and pushed Sutton back, indeed it was only a combination of excellent defending by the entire Sutton defence and profligate finishing that meant an equaliser was not found. Special mention should go to keeper Cliff, defenders Clarke and Holmes, as well as midfielders Watt and Man of the Match Fox. Meanwhile Sutton continued to work hard on the break with Mallet always a threat and it was fitting that the industrious Fox found him late in the half and he fired in a snapshot on his reverse that was appreciated by all to make the score 2-0 at half time.

St Ives started the second half with more purpose and finally got the goal their pressure deserved with a well worked finish. Taking great heart from this, they pressurised Sutton even more trying everything to find the equaliser, indeed the commitment of their centre forward attempting a glancing header into the corner of the net has to be admired even if it did bring about a premature end to his afternoon. Fortunately he only gained a flesh wound and a story to tell his mates later on! Suttons defence remained resolute with Sam Gray and Ed White playing their part too and the resourceful Fox linking the defence to the attack the balance of play shifted and it was no surprise when Shore found Mallet following a mazy run and Mallet duly finished in style.

A solid hard working winning performance from the Sutton team which although St Ives will be disappointed not to get anything from the game was deserved over the course of the match.

  Report by Hunter S. Thompson.