Boro marched on in the Surrey Cup with a commanding performance against the previously unbeaten Sutton Albion.
In the first few minutes Phil N’Gbale had the opportunity to get Boro off to the perfect start when put through on goal only to see his effort go agonisingly wide. After that wake up call for the visitors it was a further 25 mins or so before Boro got to grips with the two new partnerships of Rugg and Baker in the centre of defence and Herron and Chandler anchoring the midfield.
During that time it was Albion who created two of the better chances, going close with an unchallenged header that went just wide and also being kept out with a “one for the camera’s” save by Humphries in the Boro goal.
The half ended all square and the visitors appeared to be confident that they could break through in the second half even with Boro starting to create more.
The Second half started with Boro on top, continuing the work started at the end of the first half, and then the breakthrough came on the hour with Phil N'Gbale pouncing on a through ball, skipping past one challenge and then being unceremoniously brought to the ground by the on rushing goalkeeper, PENALTY!!! Although surprisingly no card for the keeper (or not maybe remembering the referee). James Andy was tasked with taking the spot kick but unselfishly gave the ball to the man who had won it. N'Gbale duly dispatched the spot kick into the bottom left corner and prompted a celebration to match anything seen at the Boro this season.
The goal brought a new confidence to Boro who were now playing some great football in what can only be described as “Difficult conditions” with the ball holding up in the numerous puddles that had now formed on the very wet pitch.
The second, all important goal, came from a fortuitous source but was roundly welcomed. A long ball was played down the right wing which looked as if it was going all the way out for a goal kick but the tenacious Ross Deegan never gave it up and put in a speculative low cross towards the near post. Somehow the Albion keeper managed to make a complete mess of collecting what looked like a simple ball and it slipped through his hands like a bar of soap only to find N'Gbale waiting 6 yards out for the easiest goal he would score this season, or so we thought.
At 2.0 up Boro then decided to allow the opposition back into the match and after a few scrambled goal line clearances and then a good save from Humphries keeping the visitors out, the inevitable happened, a strike from 10 yards out by the Albion forward found its way into the bottom of the Boro net and now with 90 minutes played and 3 minutes of added time to go the pressure was on.
Fortunately Boro have become adept this season at seeing out results in tight games, with some bullish defending from the whole team, and this match was no exception.
In added time N'Gbale completed his hatrick with no small thanks to Adam Chandler who had worked tirelessly throughout the game. The Albion defender had collected the ball from his goalkeeper only to be closed down by Chandler who then went on a tired looking run toward the Albion box, after beating one player and looking clean through on goal, for his first goal in a while, he spotted the Boro forward 4 yards out in front of a gaping goal and consummately fed him to score his EASIEST goal of the season.
Boro now face West Ewell Wanderers from the Leatherhead & District Div 2 in the 3rd Round and with a similar performance lets hope for a similar result !!!!!!!
