Mason v Sutton O’Neills
SUTTON SUNK AT FISHPONDS
This was always going to be a hard game for Sutton given that Mason are top of the table with a good goal scoring record and miserly defence. That turned out to be the case. The home game was won by Mason 5-1 and that score was repeated today. Sutton manfully held on for 14 minutes but the breakthough eventually came from an albeit soft tap in with the defence left flat footed.
Sutton’s defence was continually pulled out of position, and was left exposed by its midfield who were struggling to hold their own against a well drilled and powerful team. The second for Mason came 3 minutes later, with the defence again being stretched for a soft goal in which the ’keeper had no real chance to get to.
Sutton dug in and stopped any further goals, with notable first half performances from James Murray and Dave Henderson.
The second half began much like the first with Sofca struggling to cope with Mason’s aerial and physical dominance. Although the introduction of Dan Yeoman on 57 minutes strengthened the defence, Mason pressed on and scored again in the 62nd minute, and patiently kept pressing until they scored again in the 67th and 75th minute. Andy Dodson, Harry Simpson and Luke George all worked hard to keep the score down. After Mason’s 5th, Aaron Holmes and Robin Garnett came on for the hard working Henderson and George.
Sutton probably had their best spell leading up to Ben Donaldson being upended in the area on 81 and Harry Simpson converted from the spot. The last 10 minutes was fairly even and Mason ended up deserved 5-1 winners.
In conclusion, Sutton were given a hard lesson by a very good team. Hard lessons are good lessons and Sutton can learn a lot from this game, in particular, to improve some of the technical aspects of the game.
Man of the match: Dave Henderson
Report by Robert
