Match Report - SCTFC 4 - 3 Rugby Town FC

After a disappointing and rare loss last weekend to neighbours Walsall Wood, it was time to get back to winning ways at Coles Lane.

Up next was Rugby Town who were fighting for their lives at the foot of the table, and after already losing to them 1-0 this season, the Royals knew they would be in for a tough afternoon.

Cameron Stuart’s team for the afternoon was as follows: Brown, Christophorou, Carter-Byrne, Lima, Beresford, Doyle, Burgess, Collins, Tague, Hilton and Byrne.

Sutton kicked off and started well on the front foot scoring the first goal in 9 seconds! Hilton picked the ball up in midfield and glided past the defender before slotting the ball under the keeper. Sutton 1-0.

Tague tried a long-range effort, but the wind took the flight of the ball away from goal.

Byrne ran wide and delivered a pacey ball across the goal, but sadly nobody was on hand to slot home with the keeper already beaten.

7 minutes in and Hilton curled one from 25 yards out, which flew into the top corner with the keeper having no chance. 2-0 Sutton.

Byrne again received the ball wide, but instead of firing across the goal he hit a fierce shot towards goal which was too powerful for the keeper to stop. 3-0 Sutton.

Christophorou delivered a ball into the box which Hilton made a connection with, but the ball was slowly heading towards goal. Tague ran in and finished off, but the effort was ruled out for off-side.

Lima hit a sweet volley as the ball bounced just outside the box, but the keeper was equal to it.

Everyone felt they had a chance of scoring, and Burgess put Hilton in with an opportunity for his hat-trick, but his shot came off the keeper and hit the post.

26 minutes in and Tague got his goal. He fired a low drive across goal, under the keeper and into the far corner of the net. 4-0 Sutton.

Liam Frances got a header at the near post which went under Brown to give Rugby Town hope. 4-1 Sutton.

Tague nearly restored the 4-goal advantage with a blistering shot, which the keeper managed to get a hand to.

Disaster for Sutton right on half time as some poor defending allowed Kolodynski to lob the ball over Brown to pull another goal back. Sutton 4-2.

Sutton came out in the second half and despite expectations of more early goals, it was a very quiet opening few minutes with neither side creating much.

Hilton came close again as his close-range effort was pushed onto the post.

Tague tried his luck again from just past the half way line, but the strong wind didn’t help as the effort went over the goal.

On 80 minutes Byrne was replaced by McSkeane.

Rugby Town substitute Madundo Semahimbo made it 3 when he drove the ball into the box. He beat the Sutton defence, before firing low to make it a very nervous last 10 minutes. Sutton 4-3.

Jono made a fantastic save to spare Suttons blushes from a good effort by Francis.

Sutton managed to see the game through to get back to winning ways, but after going 4-0 up they made it hard work on the day.

Questions will be asked as Rugby almost got something out the game, which should have been sewn up at half time.

Thankfully Sutton have invested in a new scoreboard to combat the large score lines, with 8 goals last time out and 7 goals this weekend it
certainly isn’t dull at Coles Lane.

#COYR