WHAT.A.GAME

Every so often there comes a game of football that reminds you why you fell in love with the game in the first place. Now this blog is often a diary of despair, of one man howling into the wind at the shear tedium that can be brought on by a game (although I hasten to add, not in recent weeks where performances have been excellent) but Tuesday night was the game that truly did remind you why you continually turn up.


Tuesday night games are always a thing of beauty, a bright beacon in the darkness of the working week. They often a respite from the drudgery of the routine of early starts and hours of tedium, the hope of a chat, some beers and perhaps, maybe some wonderful entertainment under a floodlit landscape.


Sutton United have continued from where they left of last season (finishing with 9 winning games in a row, including the final day demolition of City) and are currently riding high in 4th place, they have thrown some money around, and included in their ranks Charlie Clough, ex Roman, and apparently a bit of an arsehole given how he treated Dorchester Town this season.






Sutton’s obvious qualities were there for all to see, as when they got the ball they could knock it around easily and I don’t remember a single bad touch being taken, however, the Romans swarmed around the yellow clad visitors all night, and rarely let them settle into any kind of rhythm.


The stripes appeared to be really up for the game, and from the very off were pressing and harrying Sutton, while attacking with pace and purpose whenever they got the ball. City started the brighter, and Stearn had an early shot deflected, before an exquisite turn by Andy Watkins allowed him to fire in a shot on goal which was pushed away by the ‘keeper.


Despite City’s early thrust, Sutton should have opened the scoring on the quarter hour, when the ball was cut back to Ali Fuseini who was unmarked 18 yards from goal, his shot along the ground was somehow cleared by Andy Gallinagh and the stripes survived. Sadly, City couldn’t hold out until half time, and despite a few more efforts by City, Sutton took the lead on 37 minutes, with a stooping header, quite why the forward was so unmarked I am not sure, but 0-1 Sutton.


This goal seemed to inspire Sutton, and they almost went into the break with an undeserved 2-0 lead when a shot slapped against Mellor’s crossbar with the keeper well beaten.


City though, have been made of stern stuff in recent weeks, and came back after the break determined to restore parity, Adam Connolly hit an early rising shot which unfortunately cleared the bar. Again though, despite City’s superiority, Sutton increased their lead when Jamie Slabber executed a turn as adept as Watkins and unfortunately for City Slabber hit a perfect shot that went into the top corner and the back of the net via the underside of the bar.


Again though, City were not downhearted, they continued to press and harry and attempt to get forward. A quick goal was what was needed, and a quick goal is what arrived. Ross Stearn whipped in a cross, and Dave Pratt got the goal his industry in the last few weeks has deserved and headed home.


The stripes seemed to grow in stature and confidence, 50/50 that would normally be lost were won, they swarmed forward in waves, Dan Bowman yet again impressing with his willingness to attack, and his solidity at the back.


Pratt blazed over when in an offside position, Keats flashed a shot wide of the post, before Stearn hit what I assume was an over hit cross rather than a shot, but whatever it was, it floated agonisingly over the bar.


Soon after this came a moment that made me chuckle, the ball was cleared into the Popular Side, the ball ricochet around the stand making it hard for a young lad to get to the ball, he eventually returned the ball to Stearn, who delivered a volley of abuse of the time it had taken to return it to him. It was clearly a heat of the moment thing, as when the ball went out of play for a corner, the wideman apologised profusely to the young gentleman.


The Romans were firmly in control at this point, and Stearn playing like a non league Maradona picked up the ball and drove at the defence, you can tell he is full of confidence, as he turned the defence inside and out, I feared he had over done it and should have passed, but no sooner had the words “Pass it you greedy shit” that Stearn rocketed a powerful shot that beat the keeper at his near post, a brilliant goal, by a wonderful little footballer.


Unbelievably City almost nicked it at the death, Pratt was felled, by a centre back who should have received his second yellow (to be fair, I think Sutton were lucky to keep a few players on the pitch, such was their gamesmanship and general shitty behaviour) and a penalty was awarded. Stearn stepped up, but sadly his brilliant performance was not to be awarded with the winning goal as Lovelock dived to his left and pushed the penalty around the post, fair play to the keeper for celebrating the save as well.


Sutton almost snatched it at the death, when the ball fell into the box, and a school playground style goalmouth scramble ensued, somehow, miraculously City hoofed the ball clear, that fell to Watkins, his one on one resulted in another save by Lovelock and that was all she wrote. 2-2 at the end of a truly enthralling game.


The true barometer of how high quality the game, and City’s performance his how many people stayed on the Popular Side applauding for minutes after the game, rather than the usual final whistle slouch out of the ground. Truly a game to set the pulses racing, and after the last few weeks no one can find any reason to complain about how the stripes are playing. Up the City!