Shrewsbury 1-6 Sutton 1st XI (DTZ Prem) Oct 29 Resurgent Sutton took the field with a depleted side but confident in the knowledge that they had knocked Shrewsbury out of the Cup in an earlier round. This was a game that Sutton desperately needed to win after four straight losses in the league and, thanks to some excellent work, they took the lead with a team goal, James Maxwell tapping in from close range. Shrewsbury came back with a goal of their own to go into half time all square.
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After the break Sutton turned up the heat and literally overran a bewildered home side with James Maxwell completing a second half hat-trick, Richard Nicklin smashing home a short corner and Josh Hendon collecting a rebound off the keepers pads. All members of the team deserve a mention for their tireless workrate but it was the youngsters, James Long and Josh Hendon, drafted into the side, who can take a lot of credit for this result writes Pete Rowley. Sutton 2nd XI 4-2 Leek 2nd XI (DTZ Div 1) Oct 28 Despite missing five of their regular starting eleven, Sutton managed to maintain their fluent passing game which at times was simply too much for the visiting team. Leek started powerfully and Sutton looked to be in trouble throughout the opening exchanges, forced to defend very deep and struggling to pick up a very fluid front line. However a tactical shuffle strengthened Sutton’s back line and with Dave Simpson in excellent form they soon managed to wrest control of the game. Colin Banton and Nick Dale were the controlling influence in midfield, dictating the play with some composed passing, and gradually the pressure on the Leek goal increased.
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Eddie Ingram opened the scoring in spectacular style, crashing home a reverse stick shot from the top of the circle. This spurred the visitors into life once more and they quickly managed a smart equaliser through their centre midfielder. Parity was short lived as Ingram netted once more, picking up Banton’s quick free hit, controlling neatly and volleying into the corner. Leek rallied after the interval but found themselves denied on a number of occasions, both Peter Trickey and Ant Czaicki making tremendous blocks to keep out goal bound efforts, and keeper Si Carey was in inspired form with two phenomenal saves. Sutton’s third goal came from skipper Matt Taylor, turned in from close range. Leek found a way back into the game after being awarded a penalty stroke, but in the closing stages James Vyse deflected in an Ant Czaicki cross to secure all the points for the home side reports Matt Taylor. Sutton 4th XI 3-1 Burton 1 Oct 28 Sutton started brightly despite playing with 10 players for the first 15 minutes & took the lead after 10 minutes through James Burnett. James added a second 10 minutes later and Rob Franklyn added to his goal tally with a well taken short corner just before half-time. Sutton continued to dominate through the rest of the game but the only second half goal was a consolation effort for Burton. With maximum points from five games and a goal difference of +20 this consolidates Sutton IV's position at the top of the table writes Colin Reid. Coventry 1-2 Sutton 1st XI (EHAC3) Oct 22 Despite struggling for form on Saturdays, Sutton seem unbeatable in the cup and progressed to the last 32 of this prestigious, national competition at Coventry who had taken all three points off Sutton in the league fixture. It could have been very different as Sutton started disastrously, conceding a penalty corner in the third minute and looking on in horror as it was converted from close range to give the home side the lead. However Ollie Westbrook soon levelled with an absolute scorcher of a reverse stick shock, searing past the keeper and in off the post. When a Rich Nicklin strike was only half cleared, Josh Hendon pounced to convert from close range and give Sutton a well deserved lead. The second half was a cagey affair with stout defending from Aly Smith and Matt James snuffing out the majority of home attacks and, on the rare occasion they were beaten, keeper Jon Phipps was in excellent form to keep them at bay. Sutton’s reward is an away tie at National League One side Southgate who have won the EHA Cup five times - a British record. This will truly prove to be a test of how far Sutton have come over recent seasons writes Matt Taylor. Burton 2nd XI 2-3 Sutton C'field (DTZ Div 1) Oct 21 Sutton maintained their 100% record with a hard fought victory at Burton. James Vyse gave Sutton the lead midway through the first half, but the visitors failed to capitalise on a number of chances that would have allowed them to put the game beyond doubt. Burton took heart from their good fortune and managed to force an equaliser from a rare foray forward. Sutton looked to step up the pace in the second half but were shell shocked after just two minutes when a goal mouth scramble resulted in a simple finish for the Burton forward. Behind for the first time this season, Sutton seconds showed tremendous spirit and attacking flair, storming forward at every opportunity. With Colin Banton and James Long in good form and controlling the midfield, it was simply a matter of time before the equaliser came, Vyse capitalising again from close range for his second. Many sides would have settled for a draw, but Sutton kept the pressure up and arch poacher extraordinaire Vyse completed his hat-trick with a close range finish to shatter the home side's hopes reports Matt Taylor. Sutton 3rd XI 2-2 Chesterfield Oct 21 The 3rd XI took on high flying Chesterfield and despite dominating for long periods, could only muster a two-all draw, twice coming from behind. Chesterfield took the lead when some sloppy defending saw keeper McGuigan beaten at his near post. Sutton responded quickly and were soon back on level terms when Andy Millman ghosted in at the far post to put home a Tom Nicholls cross. Chesterfield regained the initiative from a drag flicked penalty corner into the right hand top corner to make it two-one at half time. Sutton rallied in the second half and equalised from a well worked penalty corner with Ant Czaicki slapping the ball past the keeper after Nicholls slipped it from the top of the D. Despite dominating Sutton could not find a winner and keeper McGuigan made a fine save late on to preserve a point for Sutton remain undefeated with one win and two draws so far writes Ian Nicholls. Sutton C'field 2nd XI 5-0 Leicester (DTZ Div 1) Oct 14 Sutton maintained their 100% start in Division One despite starting in disjointed fashion after changes in personnel. After a forgettable opening, Sutton sparked the game into life after ten minutes as a cross from the right flank picked out centre forward Matt Taylor who converted neatly with a first time finish. Anton Lea doubled the lead as he finished well from the right hand side of the circle. The two goal cushion allowed Sutton to settle and their passing gained fluency, Mike Mackey and James Long utterly dominating the midfield and allowing Colin Banton to dictate the play It was Banton who extended Sutton’s lead after the interval by firing an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. Sutton’s second half pressure was relentless and Lea netted a neat second following good approach work from Long. Taylor completed the scoring late in the game, rounding the keeper with ease. Three wins from three is a tremendous start to what was expected to be difficult campaign but Sutton are aware that sterner tests await reports Matt Taylor Sutton C'field 4th XI 5 West Bridgford 2 Oct 14 The game started well as both teams were evenly matched. West Bridgford were very organised and solid at the back with few chances in the first half. The first goal was scored by Rob Franklyn, easing the pressure slightly on Sutton. This goal was quickly followed with a goal from Nick Parkes. Rob Franklyn then took control of the ball and, with a bit of trickery, slotted the ball home for his second and Sutton's third. Just before half time West Bridgford’s pressure eventually gained a reward and they got their goal. The second half started with West Bridgford piling on the pressure and pulling back a further goal to narrow the arrears to just one. A few nervy minutes passed before a flurry of goals from Rob Franklyn, netting twice, knocked the stuffing out of West Bridgford's resistance as Sutton maintained their 100% record at the top of the table writes Steve Guest. Sutton C'field 3-4 Bridgnorth (DTZ Prem) Oct 7 Sutton Coldfield showed a Jekyll and Hyde character in their home defeat to Bridgnorth. After a dismal first half they were trailing three-one to a much more switched on visiting team. Defensive lapses led to the first two goals and Sutton faced an uphill battle from then on. Anton Lea, proving that there is no substitute for class in front of goal, finished well to pull Sutton back into the game. But a third goal before half time gave the home side a mountain to climb. The deficit should only have been one goal when Lea thought he had scored a second only to see it disallowed by the umpire. A second half comeback began in fine style after a half time rocket from the coach. Skipper Richard Nicklin smashed in a short corner and all around the park Sutton were first to the ball and won every battle and 50:50 challenge. An equalising goal looked imminent for Sutton with Oli Westbrook much more dangerous from a further advanced position in the second half. Unfortunately Bridgnorth scored a fourth and effectively sealed the points. To their immense credit, Sutton continued to push hard and scored a third consolation goal and piled on the pressure to the tiring visitors. A red card for them after a lumberjack style tackle made the last five minutes a tense affair but Sutton could not find the final break through writes Johnathan Ward. Leamington Women 5-1 Sutton 3rd XI Oct 7 Sutton went into their second league game knowing it was going to be a tough affair. The first 15 minutes saw wave after wave of attack with good passing and moving from midfield to the forwards from the Sutton team. The pressure on the Leamington defence eventually resulted in Sutton finding the back of the net only for the goal to be disallowed. This changed the whole game and Sutton found themselves defending for most of the game and under constant pressure. The defence worked hard to stave off the constant attack from Leamington but to no avail. Sutton managed to get the ball up the other end on a few occasions resulting in a few short corners being given with Sutton's only goal coming from a well worked short corner, scored by Beth Willis reports Simone Richardson. Sutton 7th XI 4-1 Warwick Oct 7 Sutton got to work straight away and enjoyed a 20 minute spell of possession but failed to score. Warwick picked up the pace and drew several excellent saves from Proudman in the Sutton goal before Sutton forced a short corner from which Phil Smith rolled the ball into Poulton who swept it into the Warwick goal. Sutton regained the upper hand early in the first half and after good work by Smith the ball found its way to Sam Wager who powered the ball home with a well-placed shot. After several Warwick short corners - excellently defended by the back four of Rob Jones, Garry Richardson, Ian Clarke and Gary Poulton - and a saved penalty flick, Warwick finally forced the ball past Proudman. Sutton provided the perfect reply with David Perry winning a short corner which Terleski pushed to Smith, who slotted it back to Terleski as he moved in on goal for a near post tap in. After a further period of Sutton possession a tireless Andy Hartshorne found Paul Collins on the edge of the D. Collins fired towards goal and Peter Terleski, again close in, pushed the ball over the line. Warwick pressured but stout defending kept them at bay until the close writes Andy Proudman. Sutton Coldfield 3-2 Shrewsbury (EHACup 2) Sun Oct 1 Sutton advanced to the third round of the cup with a professional performance against visiting Shrewsbury. The away side will have travelled full of confidence as Sutton are newly promoted to the Premier Division this season, whereas Shrews have been established for some years. However the home side looked the more assured throughout as their powerful running and neat, quick passing proved too much for the uncomplicated and direct visitors. Sutton took the opportunity to blood some of their promising youngsters and, in fielding James Long, Ali Smith and Matt James, the back three were all under nineteen years old. Sutton opened the scoring after ten minutes following good work down the right hand side. Jon Owens surged into the circle and his pinpoint cross picked out Paul Terleski who finished neatly inside the left post. The lead was doubled after eighteen minutes when Jag Soor released captain Richard Nicklin on a trademark burst from midfield. Nicklin’s early ball picked out Matt Taylor inside the circle who calmly left the keeper stranded with a clever touch before finishing into the empty net. At two goals behind the visitors rallied but, marshalled by the experienced Chris Kent, Sutton were largely able to keep them at bay. The second half was similar to the first with Sutton dominating proceedings. Ant Czaicki and Andy Millman, both making their first eleven debuts, worked tirelessly upfront to contain the visitors. Despite these efforts Shrews finally managed to pull a goal back from a penalty corner, much against the run of play. Sutton replied in style minutes later, Jon Ward’s scything run through the defence culminating in a neat shot into the far corner. Throwing caution to the wind, Shrews poured forward in numbers only to be denied by a couple of solid saves from keeper Jon Phipps. With just seconds remaining on the clock and the game all but secure, an uncharacteristic defensive error left Phipps horribly exposed and he was beaten to give Shrews a whiff of hope This was soon dashed by the umpire’s final whistle, leaving Sutton jubilant and looking forward to the next round. | 
