Match Report: Quorn AFC 1 - 1 SCTFC

After reaching 10 unbeaten games on the bounce last weekend, and with an accomplished 7-1 victory over Gresley, it was an away game against newly promoted Quorn. They were in the mix for play-offs, and Sutton needed to not lose this game against a serious contender for promotion.

Stuarts team for the game were: Brown, Christophorou, Carter-Byrne, Lima, Beresford, Doyle, Byrne, Collins, McSkeane, Hilton, and Edmunds.

Sutton were slow off the starting block, and Quorn capitalised when Webb got in behind our defence and pulled the ball back across goal for an easy tap in by Noble. 1-0 Quorn.

Sutton had their first chance of the game when a ball into the box was met by the defender, but the clearance was poor and the ball went spinning in the air. Collins rose above the defender to get a head on it, but the keeper was equal to it.

Sutton were given a free kick for a foul on Hilton, Edmunds stepped up to deliver into the box but before anyone could connect, Beresford was brought down after excessive marking shall we say to gift Sutton a penalty.

Hilton hit sweetly into the bottom corner to the keepers left leaving him no chance. 1-1.

On the half hour mark, Quorn had the ball in the net after Robertson had hit a long ball for Grantham, but the flag was up before the strike.

Sutton only managed another attempt before half time, when McSkeane hit a volley from just outside the box, but the angle was tight and the side netting met with the ball.

Sutton had a much brighter start in the second half, and Hilton was unlucky not to earn a penalty when he avoided a clumsy sliding challenge in the box. He stayed on his feet, which probably was his undoing.

A glorious cross field ball from Edmunds was met by Byrne. He ran to the bi-line, beat the defender to deliver a sweet ball into the path of Hilton. With the goal gaping for a tap in, Hilton somehow managed to clear the crossbar.

Hilton, disappointed with the miss, got his head down and ran wide, before he cut inside the last defender and fired low towards the bottom left. The keeper managed to save with the aid of the post, to somehow stop the ball crossing the line.

Moments later, another great chance for Sutton when Collins put a through ball to Lima. It cut the defence wide open, but his shot went over the crossbar. It was great vision by Collins!

On 66 minutes McSkeane made way for Tague.

Hilton had another effort, again beating the defender and firing towards goal. The rebound was met by Edmunds, whose shot from 20 yards out flew over the crossbar.

A poor tackle on Lima secured a second yellow and an ultimate red card was issued to Beswick, which meant that Sutton had 10 minutes against 10 men.

Sutton thought they may have won it right at the death, when Hilton set up Edmunds central to the goal. He hit a powerful shot, which Woods managed to pull off a one handed save, denying The Royals a win.

A good performance from the lads. Quorn took the first half, but as per usual Sutton came back stronger in the second. They probably should have won, but the important thing was not to lose to a play-off competitor.

11 games unbeaten and the lads march on.

#COYR