Match Report - SCTFC 0 - 1 Lye Town FC

Sutton, with no win in four games, were determined to get back to winning ways. And, with Lye the visitors to Coles Lane, it was going to be a tough test.

Stuart’s starting line up for the game was as follows: Brown, Hurley, Carter-Byrne, Lima, Beresford, Doyle, McSkeane, Collins, Tague, Edmunds and Byrne.

The game had a poor start in terms of action in the final third for both teams. For Sutton, it was an Edmunds corner that saw Lima rise well to get a header. But the connection was poor and the ball swayed to the left of the post.

On 34 minutes, Lye almost took the lead with the first shot on goal for either side. Jono got down well to save it at his right-hand post.

Both sides were stuck in midfield, with neither able to break through to create a goal scoring opportunity. This was typified when McSkeane hit a shot from 20 yards out which went well wide.

The second half didn’t start much better with nothing going forward from Sutton. Lye took advantage of some poor marking when a cross field pass was met by Palmer who was central to the goal. He fired the ball home to make it 0-1 Lye.

Straight after the goal, changes were made by Stuart. He brought on Dowd and Rowe to replace Kyle Byrne and McSkeane.

Rowe immediately made a positive impact on the game as he ran down the wing, delivered a delightful ball into the box, only to see the good work wasted as nobody was there to receive it.

Sutton thought they had the equaliser with a 1-2 in the area between Tague and 14. He set 14 up with a shot on goal, which beat the keeper, but it was ruled out for off-side.

Burgess came on for Doyle on 59 minutes.

Beresford made a great run down the wing to the bi-line, but the Lye defender tackled well to ensure the ball went out of play.

Right on full time, Hurley got his head to a ball in the box. But, sadly for Sutton, poor direction saw it sail past the post.

The game finished with Lye taking all 3 points.

In all honesty, it was a very poor game from both sides, with very few chances for either team. Fair play to Lye though, they took their chance and it paid off.

For Sutton, with no wins in 2024 yet, we have a worrying statistic. Worrying when you consider Sutton didn’t have a shot on target in the whole game. The loss of Hilton is a small factor as he was the leading goal scorer for Sutton, and he also created for others from wide.

We look forward now with Shepshed away next Saturday and another chance to break the rut.

#COYR