Match Report - SCTFC 0 - 2 Boldmere St Michaels FC

After two impressive wins in the league, it was back to cup action in the F.A Trophy with the possibility of a cup run to match current league form. The Royals had to overcome a challenging Boldmere side, who have proved difficult to beat in recent years.

Stringer’s team for this derby game was as follows: Brown, Sawyer, Christophorou, Lima, Fitzgerald, Collins, Burgess, Clements, Edmunds, Hilton and McSkeane.

It was a fairly even start by both sides with neither making any cutting edge.

Hilton made a good run to the bi-line and cut the ball back into the box, but the Boldmere defenders cleared before a blue shirt could get on the end of it.

McSkeane tried his luck from distance but his effort went high and wide. There were signs that Sutton were starting to produce something.
12 minutes in and Boldmere won a soft penalty, up stepped Shorrock who fired straight down the centre as Brown dived to the left. 0-1 Boldmere.

McSkeane was fouled 25 yards out and Burgess stepped up to take, but unfortunately his effort curled over the crossbar. Sutton suffered another set-back on 21 minutes when an injury to Fitzgerald meant that Birch had to step in.

On 25 minutes Boldmere doubled their lead with a bullet header. It made life very difficult for Sutton in this game. Sutton won a free kick as Hilton was fouled just outside the area. A quick ball in was met by Collins who set Lima up with a shot, but this took a deflection. The resulting corner was adjudged to be wrongly taken, but Collins and Hilton had worked it well between them. It should have stood, but it caught everyone out, including the referee.

Sutton were trying to get a foot hold back in the game, and Edmunds won a free kick which he took, but his effort went straight into the wall. Hilton ran from wide, beat several defenders, before firing a low shot which Moore only just kept out of the Boldmere goal. It finished 0-2 to Boldmere at the break, and with only 1 shot on target in the first half, it was going to be an uphill struggle in the second.

Sutton nearly went further behind early in the second half when a good shot was well saved by Brown to prevent the game being out of sight for The Royals.

Hilton showed his class by ripping through the Boldmere defence before setting up Edmunds with a shot, his effort was well blocked to keep their 2-0 lead intact.

On 56 Clements was replaced by Dampha.

No sooner had Dampha come onto the pitch, he was involved in a great chance for Sutton. Hilton drove the ball forward and zipped a ball across the goal which Dampha struck sweetly, only for his effort to be cleared off the line.

On 71 minutes the crowd saw the return of Leo Brown after a short injury lay off, he replaced Ryan Edmunds.

Hilton tried his luck with a shot from distance but it went high over the crossbar, frustration had started to creep into the Royals play.
Leo Brown received the ball at a tight angle, but he still managed to get the shot away and cause Moore to save with his legs to keep his clean sheet intact.

Hilton showed his magic just before full time when he beat several of the Boldmere back line, before hitting a powerful cross into the box. Lima nearly got a head to it, but the pace beat him and he ended up in the net himself.

Sutton had to bow out of the FA Trophy at the first time of asking losing 2-0 to Boldmere. It has provided the management with more questions than answers.

It was a difficult game for Sutton who never really caused the Boldmere keeper much trouble, but they will have to look to get back to winning ways in the league. It’s an away trip to Lye next Saturday, and the lads need to put this poor result behind them.

#COYR