Sutton 3 Basingstoke 2

[mmm]

Last minute winner from a corner. For the first 15 it was all Sutton, to go 2-0 up, then it was like they took their foot off the gas, for ages Basingstoke were winning all the balls in the middle and making most of the play, they got 1 back 10 mins before the break and their 2nd with about 15 mins left, and you couldn't say they wouldn't have deserved the point. But then they started time wasting instead, Sutton started attacking properly again, and got the winner.

[billzeebub]

Closer than it should have been. A bit of luck (at last) at the end with the goal but a lot of pressure had been absorbed by the oppo in the lead up to it. Things are looking up, a very good month so far with just Chelmsford away now. Only 3 teams in the league have lost less games than Us, only 2 teams have conceded fewer goals..we just need to put away a few more chances regularly to be promotion contenders

[bornatotter]

So where to start with this one. A mighty rocking and rolling game to shred the nerves and keep the cold out on a frosty February night.
Early goal from Richie from a fine move and a good headed finish and we started with the same pace and pressing game that did for welling. Another sharp move on the quarter hour and Marv applies a clinical finish this time. Could possibly have had more in the first half hour as the Harry's, paquette and Marv turned the screws. Some fine link up play with rentsy down the left continually pushed stoke back and to be honest they couldn't live with us.
Gradually though they clawed their way back in and a decent finish from distance from a second ball that maybe we could have blocked off gave them a foot hold and it was two one at the break.
Second half stoke began to bully it around a bit with the assistance of a weak ref who caved in to them and their strong arm tactics which were to break the game up through all the old tricks and look to hit us Through the middle. When sills came on it looked like he thought it was a six nations game as he hacked away with impunity while Marv got a yellow for nothing.
The equaliser came from us getting caught a bit square and the ball was moved across our defence too easily before the final man had space and time to pick his spot and bury the finish.
After three games in seven days some of the lads looked a bit knackered but this revived Sutton side has some real bollocks about it and a big heave at the start of added time saw us bundle in an absolutely classic late winner via the big man himself.
In some ways you could put up a case that this was the best of our recent wins. Not because we played brilliantly, although we did for the first half hour, but because after letting a two goal lead slip to a team in form we had the guts to summon up the energy to snatch a winner.
A great win that propels us forwards and we can proud of all the lads tonight.

[garethl]

Thought the win had slipped away but thankfully we squeezed in a winner. Basingstoke will be gutted having battled back from 2 goals down. We started really well and the quality of our deliveries into the box caused a lot of trouble. They then got a foothold and certainly one of the more dangerous sides we have seen down GGL albeit assisted by a makeshift and at times shaky rearguard. Oh well 3 points in the end and on to Chelmsford. Hopefully the skipper and Downer will be back available. Good entertaining game. A little more open than it should have been 2nd half. Amazing inconsistency from ref with cards and decisions odd, dire.

[markf]

Good game tonight with the visitors conceding two early goals & not being far away from being out of the game within the first 25 mins. U's started fast with Marvin Williams causing problems and it wasn't long before Richard Pacquette opened his account with a well placed header from Harry O's dinked cross. Michael Boateng's excquisite low ball into the 6 yard box was turned in by Marv and really U' should have put the game to bed with other chances.

"stoke, fom nowhere upped their performance and got a goal back when Williams struck a low shot from the edge of the box. Tom was probably unsighted and the ball beat him into the corner.

U's started the second half well but 'stoke with Sam-Yorke a threat down their right flank all night, equalised with 15 mins let after an attack again down the right wing allowed space for their fella to dispatch a well struck low shot from inside the left hand side of the penalty area.

Earlier in the season, we would have done well to hang on for a point but U's seemed to find extra legs & 'stoke, with the hard work seemingly done were undone when Tom Jordan headed home from a set-piece - I think it was Tom, anyway - a minute from time. "stoke missed a glorious opportunity to level again when they struck the post of an unguarded goal but U's saw out the match to win 3-2.

I thought it was a good game, played at a fast pace throughout and deserving of a bigger crowd, the locals preferring to watch The Gunners continued demise.

Ref had a reasonable first half but I thought we got little from him in the second. And he was highly inconsistent with regards to the use of his cards.

Odd but I thought (with exception of the first 20 odd mins) that 'stoke were a better side than they were when they beat us on the opening day.

Another good 3 points ahead of a real tough trip to Chelmsford on Saturday. Well done to all.

Welling went top tonight while Eastbourne lost 3-0 at home to Bath, no doubt the ref contributing greatly to another defeat (hope Kev ain't reading this!!).

[Paul L]

A few quick pics (some of them even in focus)

1-0, Richard Pacquette:


2-0, Marvin Williams:


3-2, Dundas, Jordan or Sills?


Third goal celebration:


Post game applause:

[Amber Aleman]

Possibly our least convincing win of the season, although none of us would have thought that after 20 minutes when we were 2-0 up and seemed in complete control. But we then lost the initiative for about an hour and allowed a dogged Basingstoke side - who proved they have better finishers than Eastbourne - right back into the game. Thankfully our late burst of energy saw us clinch the three points, although there was still time for 'Stoke to hit a post after our defence briefly dissolved into chaos.

It was encouraging to see us score twice from set pieces, a well worked free kick routine seeing Richard Pacquette notch his first Sutton goal in the second minute, while the winner was our first goal from a corner for gawd knows how long. Dundo has been credited with that, although nobody seemed sure who got the decisive touch!

Although tonight's three points only take us up one place to tenth, we're now right on the shoulders of Eastleigh, Weston and Farnborough, the teams just outside the play-offs. Chelmsford on Saturday will be a test of our impressive form - seven wins from nine in the league.

[Millsy]

Dundas with the aid of a deflection off Sills is the outcome of many a discussion!

[Millsy]

I've just read through what I think is a good example of unbiased / impartial reporting whilst still managing to reflect the natural leaning towards the side represented:

www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport/football/10238197.LIVE___Sutton_United_v_Basingstoke_Town/

[billy]

Feb 19, 2013 13:15:00 GMT DaveF said:

Season tickets actually purchased are all counted in the stated attendance, as are complimentaries used on the day - eg player's guests, scouts etc - but not the season tickets issued to businesses.

Mine falls into the latter category. Does this mean that i'm not included in the assembled throng ?

It has BLUE SQUARE on it. Don't tell delboy but Blue Square is not my real name.

Three games in eight days was a real endurance test (especially for those watching) but at least i broke it up by seeing Fairport Convention in concert at Farnham the other night.

Sutton have won every game i've been to this season bar one when they let a two goal lead slip and got pegged back to 2-2.

[baboonfish]

Great to get the win but that was a strange match! Referee was absolutely shocking, dished out plenty of yellow cards considering there was hardly a bad tackle in the whole game, was completely incapable of playing advantages and seemed intent on penalising almost every contact, meaning the game could not flow. What on earth he saw for the free kick that led to stoke's first goal only he knows.

Fair play to the oppo for clawing their way back, and their well worked second goal was the game's highlight. Shame we could not reshuffle to put Jordan on Sills as poor old Telfs was never gonna win a header against him, and they used his height well, pumping every ball to his head (they obviously have had some practice at that). What on earth happened after the winning goal, I was down the other end of the ground and it looked suicidal. Lovelock made some excellent clearances, but looked like a disaster waiting to happen at times and could be considered extremely lucky not to have cost us a goal!

All in all I was especially satisfied to see us win after the opening day game, in which Stoke deserved nothing, and well done to the lads for rallying and for the ground staff for getting the pitch to a standard that would be good enough for most League 2 pitches.

[steveo77]

great win for the team last night, I didn't get there as I am also an Arsenal supporter but the Sutton result cheered me up!
I am hoping to get to more matches though as the run in looks like it could be quite exciting this season. There certainly look to be plenty of opportunities to go during the next few weeks!

[garethl]

Feb 19, 2013 23:24:46 GMT Amber Aleman said:

It was encouraging to see us score twice from set pieces, a well worked free kick routine seeing Richard Pacquette notch his first Sutton goal in the second minute, while the winner was our first goal from a corner for gawd knows how long. Dundo has been credited with that, although nobody seemed sure who got the decisive

Not that long really, Dundas v Eastleigh at home. It is nice to see we are a threat from corners again though, I see what you were getting at. Jordan and Stuart have gone close recently and Dundas also a major threat. Rents delivery has been excellent as well which helps. Won't be long before Jordan converts and at the very least he'll occupy their biggest guy.

[Juan]

An alernative view/ write up can be found here.....

www.gandermonium.com/

[Amber Aleman]

The Basingstoke Gazette reports our winner as a Sills o.g. ;D

See fourth para via this link:

www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/sport/10240844.Bristow__Sutton_defeat_was_tough_to_take/