Sutton Athletic                    0

Erith and Belvedere          3          Lear 3, 25, Aderonmu 83

SUTTON AND PROTESTS CAN’T STOP THE DERES

Traffic around the M25 was a nightmare owing to the Just Stop Oil protestors chaining themselves to the Dartford Bridge, and spectators struggled to get to Sutton-at-Hone, but once the match got underway the Deres cruised to an 11th consecutive league win to match the top-flight record set by Spurs in their 1960-61 double season.  And it ended another very impressive record: it was Sutton’s first home league defeat in 364 days, since a 2-1 defeat to Stansfeld on 6th November 2021.

The visitors took an early lead as the Sutts retreated deeper and deeper and allowed Danny Lear to score after 3 minutes from Bradley Ryan’s left-wing cross.  More chances followed – a spectacular Tyrell Richardson-Brown overhead kick went just wide and Rob Strachan hit the post from a header from a Ben Wilson corner.  Dan Carpanini, making his debut after joining Sutton recently, made some fine saves to keep the deficit down.

Midway through the 1st half Lear added to his tally and the Deres’ lead when a ball over the top was lifted over the Sutton keeper to make it 0-2.

Sutton’s approach play was good at times, and Arlie Desanges, with over 200 goals to his name, is always a threat: his volley in the 67th minute drew a fine save from Adam Molloy as Sutton dominated possession.  A Billy Muckle volley was saved with some excellent acrobatics from the E&B keeper. 

Sutton were more than a match for the visitors for the majority of the second half before a sucker punch goal in the 80th minute wrapped up the victory for the Deres.  Strachan played a ball forward to Lear who put the ball into the area and Tunde Aderonmu was there to steer it into the net.

SUTTON: Carpanini; Lawrence, Hughes, Muckle, Fenn, Gregory, Spencer, White, Desanges, Evans, Gunner.

DERES: Adam Molloy, Ryan Palmer, Ben Wilson, Jerome Wade, Ryan Johnson, Rob Strachan, Tyrell Richardson-Brown (Rory Ward 72), George Monger, Danny Lear (George Purcell 82), Nathan Palmer (Tunde Aderonmu 74), Bradley Ryan. Subs:Jack Miles, Reece Barrett