It was a cold Autumnal evening in Oldbury and Sutton were up against a strong Tividale side who had only lost one game all season and were flying high at the top of their league.

Sutton started the game with a much-changed side from that who were climbing the league. Sutton started attacking straight away with Monaghan setting up Clarke who volleyed just over the bar from outside the penalty area. Minutes later a free kick for Sutton was cleverly worked, dropping nicely for Amartey but Kriskinans rushed out and smothered his shot.

Tividale pushed Sutton at times, but the Sutton defence restricted them to longshots with Wilkinson having the best effort which just cleared the bar. Tividale had some sustained pressure on the Sutton goal, a back header went wide from a corner, then a mishit shot went wide of the left-hand post.

Amartey threaded a lovely ball through the Tividale defence but sadly for Sutton, Letford got little purchase on the ball and his effort was tame and easy for Kriskinans to collect.

Amartey had a turn to run at the defence but his eventual shot got blocked and cleared. Later Monaghan had a fabulous effort on goal with a looping shot over the keeper, Kriskinans dived backwards and tipped the ball over the crossbar, he had pulled off an outstanding save.

Sutton gained a rare corner in the game, Curtis floated a superb ball into the box for Clarke to head down but somehow the Tividale defence cleared it off the line. Sutton were knocking on the door, but Tividale remained strong and determined to get that first goal and nearly did minutes later when Dan Smith turned his man and the resulting shot cannoned off the post.

Sutton had a fight on with Tividale and were not content just to sit back. At the end of the first half Sutton had won a corner which resulted in a goal for Mutton. He capitalised on another good save by the keeper from a header down, but could only parry it to the oncoming Mutton who tapped the ball home for Sutton - GOAL 0:1 Sutton.

The second half and Tividale came out with renewed vigour. Wilkinson fired a shot which flew straight over the bar, then Bustin had a shot which fortunately for Sutton went straight to the keeper who saved it with his legs. The pressure is continued but Sutton remain resolute in defence.

Toothy made changes with Moore coming on for Monaghan, and McNulty on for Mutton. These proved to be inspired substitutions as on 64 minutes, Alex Moore hit a looping shot from a free kick over the wall and past a stationary keeper to put Sutton in the driving seat GOAL! 0:2 Sutton.

Amartey, who had been a live wire all night, ran onto a through ball one on one with the keeper but was quick to dive to his feet. On 82 minutes Amartey got the better of Kriskinans when he came right out of his area to pick up a loose ball, Amartey took the ball round the keeper leaving him stranded and he walked the ball into the net. GOAL! 0:3 Sutton and game over.

Tividale had a couple of small attacks but with the game all wrapped up neither side pushed forward. Tividale were a strong unit and the 0:3 was a good reward for Sutton, after a good solid performance with a team much changed from the usual league line up.

Great work from the lads and let’s hope for a good cup run.