Match Report - Harborough Town FC 2 - 3 SCTFC

After a wonderful comeback win last weekend against an unbeaten Anstey side, it was time for the lads to pit their wits against a side unbeaten at home. They are also top of the league, and it’s Harborough Town, a team that did the double over Sutton last season.

Stuart’s team selection was as follows: Brown, Birch, Carter-Byrne, Lima, Beresford, Doyle, Byrne, Collins, Tague, Hilton, and Edmunds.

Sutton were full of confidence and started well and on the front foot. Tague fired on the turn to give Taylor a nervy start as he managed to deflect the shot over the crossbar.

Carter-Bryne delivered a delightful ball across field and into the box for Tague, but he was unable to connect for a certain goal.

It was all Sutton in the early exchanges, and they were unlucky not to be ahead in the game. Tague put things right on 16 minutes, from an acute angle, he hit the ball on the half volley over the keeper and into the net. It was a sweet strike that wowed everyone in the ground. 0-1.

Harborough put pressure on the Sutton defence desperate to get back on the game, but the Sutton back line was immense at soaking the pressure up and giving very little opportunity to the Harborough forwards.

One Harborough attack nearly resulted in a goal for Sutton. As the ball was cleared, Tague trapped the ball in his own half, turned the defender and fired an effort. It caught Taylor out who was out of position, but his effort just clipped the top of the crossbar.

The writing was on the wall for Harborough as another attack was counter attacked. This time Byrne beat the offside trap, ran into box and slid the ball to the keepers right to put Sutton in dreamland. 0-2 Sutton.

Harborough were rocked by this, and Sutton went on the attack again. Tague this time turned provider for Hilton who received a cross field pass, only to see his effort go just wide.

A free kick was awarded to Sutton just outside the Harborough box. Edmunds stepped up and his effort just clipped the wall as the ball spun in, Taylor waited nervously for the ball to drop into his hands. Unfortunately, it did!

It seemed to be a shoot on sight policy, with efforts coming from all over the pitch, even in their own half as the first half came to a close.

It was important for The Royals to keep the clean sheet in the first quarter, as they knew Harborough would come at them with everything in the second half. Unfortunately, things did not go according to plan, as Amar Sandhu ran at pace through the defence and fired through Brown to pull one back. 1-2 Sutton.

Harborough were in all-out attack mode when the ball found Morris in the box. He was central to goal, and fired Harborough level on 51 minutes. It was disaster for Sutton, who saw their lead whittled away inside the opening 6 minutes of the second half.

Sutton had their best chance to go into the lead as Hilton was put through on goal. With only the keeper to beat, he blasted the ball over the crossbar. Elliot stood his ground well in the Harborough goal to make Hilton put the shot over.

Brown made a fabulous one handed save from a free kick. His quick actions prevented Harborough going into the lead for the first time.
A double substitution on 80 minutes saw Birch and Kyle Bryne go off to be replaced by Sawyer and McSkeane.

It was looking like a draw, when Hilton carried the ball past three defenders. He was like Messi in his prime before he cut the ball back into the box where Tague was waiting like the poacher he is to slot home into the corner of the net. 2-3 Sutton.

Tague was replaced by Antonio in injury time.

It was another great comeback win for Sutton whose never say die attitude got them another 3 points against top of the table Harborough Town. You would not bet against these group of lads to beat anyone in this league now, onwards and upwards it is!

#COYR