Staines v Sutton

[Beaney]

1-0 down at half time. Still wish I was there though.

[Rupert Scallywag]

2 down now

[Beaney]

2-0 down now.

[swedishchapter]

3-0 83 mins

[swedishchapter]

3-0 ft :-( :-( :-(

[sutton]

Gutted

[Andy K]

Just back from Staines, and imho 3-0 was a pretty fair result. The ref, as was so often this season was utterly shocking, but even with the best ref in the world it wouldn't have affected the score too much. Dos has said even at this late stage we are a work in progress and it showed tonight. Still the players didnt give up, even at 3-0 and credit should be given to them.

I hope Staines do themselves justice on Saturday, as overall the 3 times i've seen them, they've been by far the best team in the league (yes, more than Dover!).

In a few days i'll jot down our achievements this season, but at the final whistle, I think as supporters we gave the team and Dos the respect they have spent this season earning. Yes we may still be in the Ryman league, but we will go in as one of the favourites, and if we hold together a lot of the squad we have at the moment, there is no reason why we can't go up next season as champions.

And there the season endeth....

[taz]

Never really in it TBH. From the first minute onwards when they rattled the bar with a free-kick, we were pretty much second best and rarely threatened.

Cut us to pieces through the middle repeatedly while we struggled to retain any sort of possession. Goal was coming for a while, then when 1 up they seemed to take a breather and we got into the break one down.

Worst possible start to second half, 2 down inside a minute and that was it really.

We did have a little spell for 10 mins or so late in the second half where we exerted a bit of pressure and flung some balls into the box. But to little avail. 'Keeper dropped a couple of high ones, but they didn't fall to anyone in a white shirt to make anything of.

If I'm honest, I think we were probably a year ahead of schedule in PD's plan. Next season is the real test. If there's one thing we take from tonight, it's that the sort of football Staines play is what we need to be aiming for. Great tempo, good with the ball and incisive with it.

Fair play to 'em. They deserved it.

Overall, a far more enjoyable 9 months than the previous ones! First round of the cup, made the P\Offs. Cheers to the players who gave us that, we just fell that bit short in the end.

[jw]

Firstly i would like to point out that ref was truly shocking one of, if not the worst this season but lets not blame him for the defeat, we were poor and staines wanted it more and played better than us. We tested their Keeper once all night with a Watts header where he tipped it over the bar, seeing as he is one of the best keepers i've seen at this level we needed to create more and challenge him.

The midfield did not work well at all today i think its a matter of run out of steam and this LONG season has finally come to an end, and i'm sorry Dos but Chukki is not good enough he may well be fit and ready next season but quite clearly in the last few games he hasn't had it and starting him was the wrong decision.

I think a MASSIVE round of applause to the 12th man tonight which were our fans, absolutly fantastic tonight provided a good atmosphere and made me proud to be a Sutton fan!

And finally i would like to say THANKYOU to Paul Doswell for the best season i've seen since supporting Sutton ten or so years ago, after heartbreak from last season Dos said he would put the smile back on our faces, he certainly did with a playoff finish and a SUPERB cup run! We shouldn't feel to disappointed about tonight's result we accomplished our targets and a win tonight would of been a bonus!

Thanks for a great season to everyone involved at Sutton United!

[Burtie]

Despite the disappointment, can't really argue with the result tonight. Once Staines went a goal up, we never really looked like coming back into it and they were never really in any danger.

I think Dos will look to re-shape the squad over the summer, maybe clear out some dead wood and bring in some new faces. But there's certainly huge hope for next season - especially if we can hang onto our brighter young talents.

Seeing the glass as half full, at least we can look forward with confidence to a season (hopefully) making a sustained and consistent challenge at the top, rather than struggling on the back foot.

Well done to Dos and the boys - you've done yourselves proud, and I can't wait to get back next season!

[Amber Aleman]

Not much to add to the above. Staines showed tonight why they finished 15 points above us. I thought we were pretty poor overall, and pushed them much closer in February's league game.

Staines scored three fine goals while we barely troubled their keeper. Our best chance of scoring looked to come from corners and free kicks, but we made little of those.

I thought our best player was AJ, but even he made a hash of our most threateningly-positioned free kick.

Dos said at the start of the season that his aim was to get to the play-offs, and he's achieved that. His programme notes on Saturday were preparing us for likely defeat tonight. At least the game should have given him a slightly better idea of what has to be done for us to push on next season. It's pretty clear that we need changes in midfield and to sign a proven striker at this level.

[jr]

Disappointing but the lads gave their all and we can't ask for more than that. Staines did a professional job continually fouling Gav on the blindside which rendered him pretty ineffective. The ref was a bit of a homer but apparently he's only 20 so no doubt will be in the FL soon and will be a top ref. Staines were just a class above and I do hope they go up, not because they're playing the Bobbins but because it will give us a better chance to go up next season.

Finally a word on their ground. It's surprisingly the first time I can remember visiting the place and it appears that they have a nice new bar and stand etc but how the hell are they allowed into the Conf South. A stand that holds 300 at most, standing behind the goal that is 2 deep, 1 turnstile open until late on they opened a second, very few programmes, the dugouts are vertually on the pitch! Surely they won't be able to go any higher.

[fox]

Appart from the result a bloody good evening, thought the support and the noise was MOTM tonight.

Not much to add to the above appart from my thanks to PD and those that arranged the coaches.

A good season, next season will be a great one!

[tonyd]

Well beaten tonight, with our midfield looking pedestrian and our central defence porous. In fact only AJ and Gavin looked like they should be in a promoted team. I'm surprised that Dos took Gav off, he had run his socks off, but he still seemed the man most likely. Still, from where we were at the beginning of the season to reach the play-offs is an excellent performance and a whole lot more entertaining than last year. Our big issue seems to be are the players that we have in the squad going to reach a good level of fitness, or are they playing in the Ryman because they cannot achieve that. Clearly players such as Collins, Palmer, Eribenne, Watts, Bond are capable of a higher level, but consistent fitness is required.

Credit to the travelling supporters, from my spot in the main stand they were making all the noise, except for that flaming drum.

Finally, sorry, but I thought the ref had a reasonable game.

[os]

Apr 28, 2009 23:27:27 GMT tonyd said:

Finally, sorry, but I thought the ref had a reasonable game.

I had the feeling that Saturday was our day and Staines was just a bridge too far for us and so it proved. Credit to Staines who I agree with AndyK are the best side I have seen all season with tonight's game actually very similar to our 3-1 league defeat a couple of months back. I think its a real shame that Staines find little support from their locals as they deserve better attendances. I also agree with the comments about the ref he was a complete arse with some decisions really quite embarrassing, Dundo was fouled on the edge of their box leading up to the goal and there was a terrible challenge from behind just after that allowed to go. Poor old Gav getting pulled all over the shop on the flank before the ref gave a free kick the other way, just shocking and in the end only served to divert attention from Staines fine performance.