Sutton's Trophy hopes brought to an end.
Sutton United 0-2 Tonbridge Angels
The FA Carlsberg Trophy
First Round Qualifying
3pm, Saturday 17 October
Gander Green, Sutton United FC
Winning clubs receive £2300
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An astute performance saw Tonbridge Angles leave Gander Green Lane with a comfortable victory and a place in the Second Round Qualifying.
After taking heavy pressure in the opening 45 minutes, Steve Ferguson’s goal in first half stoppage time dealt a major blow to Sutton. And there was no way back as Paul Booth’s header gave the Angels a cushion.
From the early minutes, the visitors were banging at the Us door, with the man breaking from the midfield proving such a menace. Ferguson lashed wide of the far-post, before Booth capitalised on indecisiveness in the defence to steam through, but struck too close to Kevin Scriven.
Carl Rook also found himself behind the defence, but Scriven anticipated his cheeky chip. Scriven then almost undid his good work, as he missed a punch and had to thank Alan Bray for clearing Rook’s header off the line.
A melee was sparked on 35 minutes when Anthony Storey theatrically went down under Jason Goodliffe’s challenge, but referee Philip Nicholas dealt with it well, and only Alan Pouton and Lee Minshill went into his book.
Sutton must have thought they’d escaped a dire half on level terms but in the last minute of added time, Ferguson rounded Scriven and coolly netted, after the keeper had been forced to parry Jamie Cade’s strike.
Things went from bad-to-worse for the hosts as centre-back Goodliffe was forced off at the interval and it seems their fate was sealed, as Scriven wrongly chose to come for Ferguson’s drifted cross, and Booth’s head beat him to it.
The U’s didn’t have anything else in their locker as Cade’s header crept wide and Ferguson mis-kicked with the goal gaping, but Tonbridge were satisfied to see out the win.
Attendance: 319