Match Report - SCTFC 1 - 4 Walsall Wood FC

After an opening day defeat against Rugby Town, it was The Royals first home match of the season. It was against new boys Walsall Wood, and Sutton were desperate to get their season started.

Stringer’s team was as follows: Brown, Todd, Bowen, Burgess, Lima, Christophorou, Dampha, Collins, McSkeane, Hilton and Edmunds.
Sutton started slowly and Walsall Wood were straight on the front foot. This meant The Royals were playing large periods of the opening minutes in their own half.

12minutes in, and a poor pass-back left Montague free to run into the box unchallenged for an easy tap in. 0-1 Walsall Wood.
McSkeane had Suttons first real effort as he evaded a tackle in midfield before turning and firing a shot towards goal. His effort was high over the crossbar but it gave some hope to the supporters of Sutton.

On 33 minutes, a ball into the box saw Dan Gyasi unmarked to slot home for Wood’s second of the game. 0-2 Walsall Wood.
Sutton started to pick up slightly toward the end of the half and ventured into the opposition’s half. Edmunds hit a low drive which was on target but Boucher saved it well.

Just before half time, a looping header from Dampha was collected easily by Boucher who had had an easy first half with very little to do.
Wood started the second half well, and forced Brown to use his feet to save conceding a third from Unitt.

Todd made a great forward run into the box, before cutting a ball back to Edmunds who shot just wide of the near post.

This move put a little spark back in the team, and they were soon on the attack again through Edmunds. He went on a determined run through midfield before he unleashed a shot which the Wood defence managed to block before it reached Boucher in goal.

Stringer’s first substitution came on 67 minutes where Dampha came off to be replaced by Abraham.

80 minutes in, and an injury to Bowen resulted in him having to be stretchered off. This meant that Fitzgerald had to come on to cover.

On 85 minutes Montague took Wood’s tally to 3. 0-3 Walsall Wood.

Sutton had a corner which Fitzgerald met, and he hit a curling shot which went just over the bar.

In injury time Sutton had a free kick for on the edge of the box, and who should step up to take it but Fitzgerald. He had been on 10 minutes, and he hit a beauty leaving Boucher no chance. 1-3 Walsall Wood.

This fired Sutton, and Edmunds ran through midfield before hitting a strong effort low, but Boucher saved at the second time of asking after a slight fumble.

Deep into injury time, Walsall Wood go up Sutton’s half and take advantage of a defensive mix up to slot home an easy fourth via Verma. 1-4 Walsall Wood.

It was a difficult match for Sutton who never really turned up from start to finish. Walsall Wood played well and all credit to them, but we allowed them to play their game which they did, and did it well. Not many positives for Sutton, especially when you think that the only candidate for their man of the match would have been Fitzgerald, and he was only on for 10 minutes. With this in mind, you know the game had been a poor one.

We have good players who need to believe in themselves and play like they did in pre-season, so I am sure things will pick up soon.

We now look to Saturday for our FA Cup fixture away to Kidsgrove Athletic, and hopefully a welcome distraction from the League.

#COYR.