Match Report: Lye Town FC 2 - 0 SCTFC

Despite the disappointment of the loss in the FA Trophy, Sutton remained determined to continue their positive run in the league. Their next challenge would be a short trip down to Lye Town FC. The Royals knew it would be a tough test against a team that had recently been promoted after a successful period in step 5.

Stringers team for the 7th league game is as follows: 1 Jono Brown, 2 Harry Sawyer, 3 Aris Christophorou, 4 Pedro Lima, 5 James Beresford ©, 6 Chris Clements, 7 Jack Burgess, 8 Cam Collins, 9 Leo Brown, 10 Rhys Hilton, 11 Ryan Edmunds. SUBS: 12 Lamin Ceesay, 14 Alex McSkeane, 15 Kyle Byrne, 16 Remmie birch

It was a sharp start from Sutton with the first chance coming early doors from Leo Brown. The ball ended up in a goalmouth scramble, but Leo made himself a presence in the box, shrugging the defender off. This allowed him to have a strong strike at the near post, however, his effort was denied by a strong save from the goalkeeper.

Sutton continued to have the fair share of possession, not allowing Lye to get a foothold of the game. But at this point, Sutton hadn’t created a lot with the ball.

In the 13th minute, Lye Town finally managed to launch their first attack down the left-hand side. It was brought to a halt after Clements brought down the Lye player just shy of the penalty area. This earned him the first yellow card of the evening.

In the 14th minute, the resulting free kick, which Ben Billingham stepped up to take, was whipped dangerously in towards the edge of the six-yard box. This was turned home by Joe Palmer past Jono Brown 1-0 Lye.

In the 15th minute, Lye had another set piece. Ben Billingham again fired in another promising cross, which was turned home by Adam Meacham, who was unmarked by anyone from Sutton 2-0 Lye.

Cam Collins found Harry Sawyer with space on the right wing. He whipped a fantastic cross in to the box with Edmunds there to meet it, but he just couldn’t quite get the right contact on it, and the ball went wide.

Chris Clements picked out Leo with a wonderful lofted ball over the Lye defence. Leo took the ball and flicked it over the defender, but in doing so, the keeper was able to close down the angle. This resulted in Leo unable to quite squeeze it in. Sutton were having some promising chances now, and were slowly growing back into the game.

Lye had another corner with another great delivery from Billingham, but Meacham’s effort was comfortably saved by Jono
Sutton lost the ball in their own half. Ryan Bridgewater, under pressure from Jono, took the ball around him, but blazed his effort over the bar. Jono did well to close down the angle and put pressure on Bridgewater, which left a harder effort for him to finish.

HT Lye Town FC 2-0 Sutton Coldfield
At half time Stringer acted upon Sutton’s poor half, by taking off Hilton and Edmunds for Remmie and McSkeane to try and change the fortunes of this game.

Leo made a brilliant darting run, and broke past the Lye midfield. He laid the ball to Skeano, who saw his effort blocked by the Lye defence.

Skeano skipped past the Lye LB, he dribbled the ball into the box and down to the bi-line, but his ball across the box had no Royal shirts on the end of it! Much better from Sutton.

Skeano, was booked for what seemed to be an unfair decision by the referee. It appeared that the Lye player had made contact with Skeano, causing him to go down. So not entirely sure as to why he gave the booking.

For the seventh successive time, Meacham had 2 free headers just wide of the mark. Way too easy from Sutton’s perspective.

Skeano was once again causing problems for the Lye defence. He darted into the box, but his valiant effort was saved by the keeper. The ball then fell to Remmie, who couldn’t quite finish it off. A huge opportunity for Sutton!

Chris Clements OFF and Lamin Ceesay ON

Time and time again, Pedro Lima proved to be a pivotal part of this Sutton squad. He won everything in that back line and proved to be a very established step 4 centre half.

Cam Collins picked out Remmie with a long ball, but his tame effort was saved by Ben Newey with ease.

Harry sawyer got past the Lye FB and played a ball to Leo. He turned sharply and struck the ball towards goal, but his deflected effort was saved by the goalkeeper.

Skeano once again drove at the Lye defence, he dribbled past a few Lye players then let fly. Unfortunately, his effort drifted just wide of the post.

Leo picked the ball up from the edge of the box. He has an amazing strike out of nothing which rattled off the post. The ball was there for the follow up, but no Sutton player was on the end of it.

Skeano won a 50/50 with the Lye player. He the played the ball out wide to Harry Sawyer, who whipped in a good ball trying to pick out a Sutton player in the box, the keeper punched the ball out. The ball fell to Remmie who met the follow up, but his first-time volley was hit wide of the right-hand post.

Much better from Sutton but no goal to show for it.

Sutton lost the ball deep in their own half. Maxwell Ngbeken took advantage of the situation, and he slipped the ball in to Joe Palmer, who’s effort was denied by Jono with a top class save.

A corner for Sutton was probably the last chance of the game. Harry Sawyer winged the ball in, but the cross was palmed out to the edge of the box to Jack Burgess. His strike was deflected up in the air to Bezza, but his header narrowly went wide

FT Lye Town FC 2-0 Sutton Coldfield Town
Sutton’s strong spell ends with a 2-0 defeat to Lye.

Once again, another team has capitalised on us with set-piece goals. It has been the reason for many of the goals conceded this season.

Sutton looked very promising in the second half, and were probably wondering how the ball didn’t end up in the back of the net on a number of occasions. They have an extra week now to regroup before we face Loughborough Dynamo on the 30th of September. The lads need to put this behind them and try and recover ready for the game in two weeks’ time against Loughborough.