Match 31. Sutton Athletic v Glebe

Saturday 12^th March 2016 @3pm

Kent Invicta League

SUTTON ATHLETIC 2-4 GLEBE

London Hire Stadium, Lower Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RZ

Admission: £5 inc programme

Attendance: c60(h/c)

Refreshments: Bovril, £1. Mars, 60p

I had to stay local today so I chose a revisit to a game of 3^rd v 1st and crucial title race match.  Since my last visit Sutton have added hard standing on 2 sides and started on the third.  Pylons are in place awaiting lights and a new generator to power these and the club building.  They have recently been hit by vandals in the clubhouse but they are getting back to normal with bottles available in fridges only.  The other change is the refreshments are from a kitchen in the clubhouse rather than the van that was outside previously.   Still, it’s a ground with no cover so it was good to visit on a sunny, dry day.

The teams had a flat and surprisingly firm pitch to play on and the home side took the lead after just 8 minutes.  A free kick on the right was an in swinging cross and bundled in at the near post.  The lead only lasted until 15 minutes when a clumsy back pass was intercepted and although the keeper stopped the initial shot, the ball pinged around before Alderman got the decisive touch.  Glebe then took the lead on 25 minutes when a corner was headed in by Hooper.  The half ended level as Sutton equalised 7 minutes before the break when a cross was headed in by Desagnes for his second.

Glebe restored their advantage 5 minutes into the second half when another mistake at the back allowed Lockyer to nip in and score.  The game continued with more possession by the visitors but not without chances for Sutton to get an equaliser, but the game was put beyond doubt on 89 minutes when no4 was sent off for a flailing hand hitting his opponent when tussling for the ball.  The resulting free kick from 25 yards was deflected wickedly off the defensive wall and ended up in the opposite corner to where the keeper dived.

Another vital 3 points for Glebe as Sutton slip to fourth suffering a big blow to their championship prospects.