FA CUP: Sutton squeeze past Eastbourne
Report by Tony Dolbear (Sutton United)
FA Cup qualifying round II
Eastbourne Borough 3 - Tuck 31, Ramsay 38, 63 (pen)
Sutton United 4 - Watkins 20, Playford 55 (og), Martin 66, 70
Sutton's troubled build-up to Saturday's FA Cup 2nd qualifying round tie continued right to the last moment as they were caught in the aftermath of a road accident near Crawley and arrived late enough for the kick off to be put back to 3.30, but they shrugged off that, and the uncertainty over their team selection, to record a thrilling victory and reach the 3rd qualifying round for the first time in three seasons.
With Joff Vansittart suspended following his recent sending off at Bognor, and Tony Quinton's clearance from Canvey Island unconfirmed for much of the week, U's also found themselves looking for a goalkeeper as both Phil Wilson and Andy Iga failed to make the anticipated recovery from injury, and the result was a call up for 41-year-old Chris Vagg, a Sutton supporter who played at Isthmian level for several clubs including Hampton, Wealdstone and Dorking, but who hadn't played senior football for over ten years.
Despite being beaten three times, having no chance on any occasion, Vagg did everything that could possibly have been asked of him, producing a couple of crucial punches as Eastbourne piled forward late-on, looking for an equaliser, and his joy on the pitch at the end also gave real pleasure to those U's supporters, and several committee members, who have played football and cricket with him at local level over the past twenty years.
Facing a strong wind and struggling to get his clearances to the halfway line Vagg didn't have things easy and must have expected to be put under pressure early by the home attack, but he was protected well by his defence and when Matt Crabb did test him from 25 yards he boosted his confidence by plucking the ball out of the air in a familiar fashion to those who have seen him field in the slips over the years.
Sutton tried to get the ball down whenever possible and were by far the better team early on, Quinton heading just wide from a Matt Gray corner, and they deservedly went in front in the 20th minute. Peter Fear and Gray worked a good free kick on the edge of the penalty area before Fear chipped the ball in to the box and Craig Watkins looped a fine header over Lee Hook.
Watkins might have scored two more within the next six minutes, bursting clear to fire in a low shot that was saved, and then just failing to reach a superb Nigel Brake cross inside the six yard box, but between then and half time the game turned completely.
On the half hour Eddie Akuamoah was harshly penalised for landing on the ball with his hand after he appeared to have been pushed over, and from a short free kick Stuart Tuck's low 20 yard shot deflected off Brake's foot to leave Vagg stranded.
Matt Smart immediately curled a shot just wide before the home side struck again in even more controversial circumstances. A right wing corner seemed to be handled by an Eastbourne player but referee Mark Basten waved play on and after an almighty scramble the ball ran to Scott Ramsay who drilled a shot in from six yards.
U's had the right to feel aggrieved, but even so Gray's finger-jabbing pursuit of the referee to the half way line should probably have resulted in a yellow card. He failed to make the most of the reprieve and was booked minutes later for kicking the ball back a little too forcefully after being penalised, and with Brake also talking himself to a booking U's were close to losing discipline and the half time whistle came at the right moment for U's management to remind the players of who had been the better side and what could be achieved in the second half if heads stayed cool.
Within ten minutes of the restart it was clear the advice had been heeded as Fear and Gray were again on the same wavelength at a free kick: Fear's quick release to the overlapping Gray resulting in a low cross that fell to Akuamoah, and when he stabbed the ball goalwards Stuart Playford's attempted clearance flew in to the roof of his own net.
Now the home side's discipline wavered - Tuck booked for a crunching challenge on Gray - but they were back in the lead when Ramsey's pursuit of a through ball on the right was ended by John Scarborough's challenge just inside the penalty area. This time U's had no complaints at Mr Basten's penalty award against the former Eastbourne defender and Ramsay sent Vagg the wrong way from the spot.
Three minutes later, though, U's were level again as Watkins dispossessed Crabb, made Tuck look as though he was running through treacle, and crossed low for Andrew Martin to score. Martin immediately hit the bar after the ball had broken to him on the left, but didn't have to wait long for a second goal as the two strikers combined again, Martin sending Watkins through on the right and then being in the right place to meet the return cross with a flashing header. He should have had a six minute hat trick as U's poured forward again through Watkins and Fear, but Watkins' unselfishness in laying Fear's cross off to Martin slowed things down enough for Tuck to get back and produce a stunning clearance on the goal-line as Martin shot from eight yards.
Thankfully it wasn't an expensive miss, as although Eastbourne pressed for the equaliser the closest they came was when Mark Goodwin's looping header came back off the crossbar and was scrambled clear. At the other end Quinton, whose permanent return to Gander Green Lane was expected to be confirmed on Monday, shot just over after a strong run before the final whistle allowed U's supporters and players to celebrate and look forward to Monday's draw.
Eastbourne: L Hook, D Baker(sub M Goodwin H-T), S Tuck, M Smart, S Playford, G Elphick, R Brady, M Crabb(sub P Featherstone 70), S Ramsay, D Simmonds, O Rowland.
Subs not used: S Rowlands, D Chapman, S Barton.
Booked: Rowland(44-foul), Tuck(61-foul), Crabb(64-foul).
Sutton: C Vagg, M Gray, E Akuamoah , N Brake, J Scarborough, S Corbett , P Fear, A Martin(sub K Olusesi 89), C Watkins(sub P Honey 80), T Quinton, L Gonsalves.
Subs not used: E Arkali, S Booth, G Boosey.
Booked: Gray(39-dissent), Brake(42-dissent).
Referee: M Basten
Attendance: 611
