Post by andycapp on Apr 25, 2011 11:19:34 GMT
Match Preview
Sutton United (away)
Ryman Premier League, Monday 25th April
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton SM1 2EY
Telephone: 020 8644 4440
Admission prices: adults £10, concessions £5, under-16s £3
Hot on the heels of the all-Manchester FA Cup semi-final last weekend and the incredible ding-dong draw between Spurs and Arsenal midweek, comes the Robins’ big derby day – Sutton United. Obviously the scale of the game is much smaller than the first two mentioned above but Robins games against Sutton are always big in the borough.
And this season one of the most highly-contested derbies in non-league has an added edge. While the Robins have had a turbulent 2010/11 campaign, Sutton have marched their way to Ryman Premier League title. Add in Sutton expecting to parade the Premier League trophy at the game and their star striker Richard Jolly being a Robin this time last season and there is plenty of local pride at stake.
For the Robins the short journey to Gander Green Lane is the latest hurdle in a challenging fixture run-in. Having played four playoff contenders in a row (including the teams in second and third place), playing the champions is no let up. But the Robins have battled hard in tough circumstances and as the football cliché goes, in derby games form goes out of the window. Despite recent results and injuries the Robins won’t be going to Sutton to make up the numbers.
When the red and yellow halves of the borough last met, the match took place at Colston Avenue two days after Christmas. The game was one of only two that week to survive the snow and Sutton won 2-0 with a goal either side of half-time. The almost spooky pattern of twos in the result underlined just how much the Robins and Sutton compete as a pair, with rivalry leading to to reputation and revenue.
Its 1962 since the Robins beat Sutton at GGL!
With this Monday seeing their final meeting for some time, the game has an added significance for both clubs. The Robins may find regret or relief in Sutton’s departure from the Ryman League. Either way, the Robins will hope to leave Gander Green Lane this Easter with a spring in their step as well as Spring in the air.
Last meeting
27th Dec 2010, Ryman Premier League:
Carshalton Athletic 0 – Sutton United 2 (Forbes 45, Woods-Garness 51)
Recent statistics
At the time of writing Sutton have yet to play their game against Folkstone Invicta on April 23rd (Sutton’s points and statistics below are given up to this game). As expected from the league winners though, the U’s have put together some impressive runs. Sutton hit the ground running by winning 5 of their first 6 games and they lost only once in November, December, February and March.
Such was Sutton’s dominance in the league this season that they won the fifth Ryman League title in their history with an 11-point lead and without having to kick a ball. After beating Hastings United on April 16th , Sutton won the title the next day when then-nearest contenders Bury Town lost 2-1 to Cray Wanderers.
The U’s are especially strong at home. Victory over Hastings was Sutton’s 9th home win in a row and they have scored 52 out of a possible 60 points at Gander Green Lane. Sutton’s two biggest wins this season came on home turf: 5-0 against Croydon Athletic and 5-1 against Maidstone United. They also have the best goal difference in the league.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell will be back in the dugout for the first time since serving a three-game touchline ban after getting sent off at Tonbridge Angels.
League position: 1st (Champions)
Points: 81
Played: 39
Won: 24
Drawn: 9
Lost: 6
Goals for: 72
Against: 32
Goal difference: +50
Form: WDWDWW
Recent signings
Sutton’s squad is one of the league’s most altered from this time last year. Players who arrived at Gander Green Lane in pre-season included Sam Page, Tom Lewis, Kennedy Adjei (on a season’s loan from AFC Wimbledon), Fola Orilonishe and most famously Richard Jolly (see below). Simon Downer and veteran striker Craig Dundas rejoined the club this season while Karl Murray, Darren Ebsworth, Andy Forbes and Leroy Griffiths arrived as the title campaign progressed.
Top scorer
Richard Jolly will be familiar to most Robins supporters – he was the Ryman Premier Division's leading scorer in three of the past five seasons while playing for Carshalton. Jolly switched to Sutton in the summer and has a tally of 21 goals in all competitions this season. 10 of those strikes came in a remarkable month-long loan at Wealdstone. Jolly scored 2 hat-tricks in his 5-game spell with the Stones and was swiftly brought back into the team at Gander Green Lane. Quiet in recent weeks after recovering from a virus, the Robins will look to make sure Jolly doesn’t have an afternoon to match his surname.
Injuries (at time of posting)
Darren Ebsworth (left back), Kennedy Adjei (midfield)
Last match line-up
(16th April v Hastings, Ryman Premier League)
Kevin Scriven, Simon Downer, Darren Ebsworth, Karl Murray, Karim El-Salahi, Sam Page, Kennedy Adjei, Tom Davis, Craig Dundas, Andy Forbes, Leroy Griffiths
Subs: Fola Orilonishe, Tommy Kavanagh, Richard Jolly, Steve McKimm, Wayne Shaw
Sutton United (away)
Ryman Premier League, Monday 25th April
Kick-off: 3pm
Venue: Borough Sports Ground, Gander Green Lane, Sutton SM1 2EY
Telephone: 020 8644 4440
Admission prices: adults £10, concessions £5, under-16s £3
Hot on the heels of the all-Manchester FA Cup semi-final last weekend and the incredible ding-dong draw between Spurs and Arsenal midweek, comes the Robins’ big derby day – Sutton United. Obviously the scale of the game is much smaller than the first two mentioned above but Robins games against Sutton are always big in the borough.
And this season one of the most highly-contested derbies in non-league has an added edge. While the Robins have had a turbulent 2010/11 campaign, Sutton have marched their way to Ryman Premier League title. Add in Sutton expecting to parade the Premier League trophy at the game and their star striker Richard Jolly being a Robin this time last season and there is plenty of local pride at stake.
For the Robins the short journey to Gander Green Lane is the latest hurdle in a challenging fixture run-in. Having played four playoff contenders in a row (including the teams in second and third place), playing the champions is no let up. But the Robins have battled hard in tough circumstances and as the football cliché goes, in derby games form goes out of the window. Despite recent results and injuries the Robins won’t be going to Sutton to make up the numbers.
When the red and yellow halves of the borough last met, the match took place at Colston Avenue two days after Christmas. The game was one of only two that week to survive the snow and Sutton won 2-0 with a goal either side of half-time. The almost spooky pattern of twos in the result underlined just how much the Robins and Sutton compete as a pair, with rivalry leading to to reputation and revenue.
Its 1962 since the Robins beat Sutton at GGL!
With this Monday seeing their final meeting for some time, the game has an added significance for both clubs. The Robins may find regret or relief in Sutton’s departure from the Ryman League. Either way, the Robins will hope to leave Gander Green Lane this Easter with a spring in their step as well as Spring in the air.
Last meeting
27th Dec 2010, Ryman Premier League:
Carshalton Athletic 0 – Sutton United 2 (Forbes 45, Woods-Garness 51)
Recent statistics
At the time of writing Sutton have yet to play their game against Folkstone Invicta on April 23rd (Sutton’s points and statistics below are given up to this game). As expected from the league winners though, the U’s have put together some impressive runs. Sutton hit the ground running by winning 5 of their first 6 games and they lost only once in November, December, February and March.
Such was Sutton’s dominance in the league this season that they won the fifth Ryman League title in their history with an 11-point lead and without having to kick a ball. After beating Hastings United on April 16th , Sutton won the title the next day when then-nearest contenders Bury Town lost 2-1 to Cray Wanderers.
The U’s are especially strong at home. Victory over Hastings was Sutton’s 9th home win in a row and they have scored 52 out of a possible 60 points at Gander Green Lane. Sutton’s two biggest wins this season came on home turf: 5-0 against Croydon Athletic and 5-1 against Maidstone United. They also have the best goal difference in the league.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell will be back in the dugout for the first time since serving a three-game touchline ban after getting sent off at Tonbridge Angels.
League position: 1st (Champions)
Points: 81
Played: 39
Won: 24
Drawn: 9
Lost: 6
Goals for: 72
Against: 32
Goal difference: +50
Form: WDWDWW
Recent signings
Sutton’s squad is one of the league’s most altered from this time last year. Players who arrived at Gander Green Lane in pre-season included Sam Page, Tom Lewis, Kennedy Adjei (on a season’s loan from AFC Wimbledon), Fola Orilonishe and most famously Richard Jolly (see below). Simon Downer and veteran striker Craig Dundas rejoined the club this season while Karl Murray, Darren Ebsworth, Andy Forbes and Leroy Griffiths arrived as the title campaign progressed.
Top scorer
Richard Jolly will be familiar to most Robins supporters – he was the Ryman Premier Division's leading scorer in three of the past five seasons while playing for Carshalton. Jolly switched to Sutton in the summer and has a tally of 21 goals in all competitions this season. 10 of those strikes came in a remarkable month-long loan at Wealdstone. Jolly scored 2 hat-tricks in his 5-game spell with the Stones and was swiftly brought back into the team at Gander Green Lane. Quiet in recent weeks after recovering from a virus, the Robins will look to make sure Jolly doesn’t have an afternoon to match his surname.
Injuries (at time of posting)
Darren Ebsworth (left back), Kennedy Adjei (midfield)
Last match line-up
(16th April v Hastings, Ryman Premier League)
Kevin Scriven, Simon Downer, Darren Ebsworth, Karl Murray, Karim El-Salahi, Sam Page, Kennedy Adjei, Tom Davis, Craig Dundas, Andy Forbes, Leroy Griffiths
Subs: Fola Orilonishe, Tommy Kavanagh, Richard Jolly, Steve McKimm, Wayne Shaw
