Match Report - Walsall Wood 3 - 0 SCTFC

It was 11 games unbeaten for Sutton, but they had to travel to Walsall Wood to take on a team playing well this season, and who had already convincingly beaten The Royals earlier in the season.

Cameron Stuart made a couple of changes to the team for this game: Brown, Christophorou, Carter-Byrne, Lima, Beresford, Doyle, McSkeane, Collins, Tague, Hilton and Edmunds.

Sutton tried to get an early foothold in the game, and Tague curled a shot into the back of the net. But it was only after he fouled the defender so it didn’t count, but it was an excellent effort from the angle.

4 minutes in, and Sutton had the ball in the net again via Byrne, but he had run offside so again it was ruled out.

It was looking promising for the lads as Walsall wood were slow of the mark. This was understandable as they had not had a competitive match for three weeks.

The first half never really got going for either side, and Sutton’s next effort came on the 30-minute mark when Collins hit an effort from 25 yards out which went high and wide.

Tague found himself running into the goal mouth with just the keeper in his way, but the ball over ran for the keeper to easily claim.

A corner nearly got Sutton the breakthrough when Beresford rose high to beat the keeper and back headed the ball just wide of the near post.

McSkeane tried his luck from about 20 yards, but his hard shot was well wide despite the great earlier build up play.

Edmunds hit a beauty just before half time. A shot from distance looped over the keeper but dropped just over the crossbar, a bit further out and it would have been in.

It was a mixed first half with some good play, but again not clinical in the final third, and mainly restricted to long range efforts.

Second half, and Collins picked up a ball from a throw and watched his volley go wide of the far post.

Disaster for Sutton on the hour mark as a foul in the box gifted a penalty to Walsall Wood, Bradley stepped up and fired to the left of Brown. 1-0 Walsall Wood.

McSkeane was replaced by Burgess on 65 minutes.

70 minutes in, and a poor defensive header saw the ball drop for Botfield to fire home and break Royal hearts. 2-0 Walsall Wood.

Stewart made a couple of changes after the second goal went in, bringing off Doyle and Christophorou to replace with Byrne and Hurley.

Sutton nearly pulled one back after a corner was met at the back post by Beresford. His looping header was going just under the bar, before Eve plucked the ball out of the air.

Walsall wood caught out Sutton and were soon 3-0 up, when Manners fired across goal beyond Brown.

The game was well and truly up for Sutton, despite late efforts from Edmunds in the form of a free kick which was well saved by Eve in goal, and another effort by him which was saved by the keeper’s feet.

It was a difficult afternoon for the lads who found the conditions difficult on a pitch that had obviously been through the mill in recent weeks.

But despite this, they had chances and worked hard. But it wasn’t their day, and the glorious run has come to an end.

Its now time to start another one next week against Rugby at home.

#COYR