SOUTH: SUTTON UNITED 0 GRAYS ATHLETIC 6
Storming ahead in the Nationwide South championship race, Grays have proved too good for most sides this season and as Sutton suffered a series of mishaps on Saturday - some self-inflicted and some unlucky - the Essex side were in no mood for sympathy as they inflicted a thumping defeat on U's, for whom the final whistle came as a relief.
Two down inside twenty minutes after some poor defending, Sutton then lost three influential players to injury and were swept aside as they had to adjust personnel and formation, with the final blow coming as Joff Vansittart was sent off for a remark made to an assistant referee with just under twenty minutes left.
For much of the first half there wasn't a huge amount in terms of quality between the teams, but as in the FA Trophy meeting a fortnight earlier, U's hardly helped their cause by giving away soft goals. In the ninth minute Leroy Griffiths and Dennis Oli combined on the right to set up Steve West, but although he miscued his shot the ball was allowed to run through to John Martin, who looked as though he ought to have been offside on the edge of the six yard box but with no flag he turned and shot past Phil Wilson.
Martin should have scored again two minutes later when he shot wide after Griffiths' pace had seen him clear on the left to cross low, but he didn't have to wait long for another chance as Vansittart was dispossessed midway inside his own half by Lee Matthews, and when Matt Gray failed to clear at the far post Martin hooked the ball in.
Three minutes later Lewis Gonsalves, outstanding for U's this season, had to go off with a knee injury forcing Scott Corbett, given the chance to start in midfield by the signing and debut of former Carshalton favourite Romauld Bouadji, back into defence. U's seemed to survive this change and were slightly unlucky not to have a goal back before half time as an inswinging Gray corner was headed off the line by John Nutter, and Craig Watkins had an acrobatic overhead shot blocked.
The problems became worse at half time however, as Corbett failed to come out in the second half and Graham Tydeman moved to centre-back, but two minutes later he was at right-back in a 4-4-2 formation as Gray collapsed in agony having hit a low cross from the right. To compound the situation, the clearance from Gray's cross saw Griffiths leave the defence in his wake and round Wilson before scoring.
U's were in temporary disarray, and Grays took full advantage with two goals in the next ten minutes. Griffiths, who was a threat from start to finish, crossed low from the right to give Martin a chance of a hat-trick, and although Wilson saved brilliantly the ball ran loose for Dean Brennan to smash home. West then produced a classy finish from just inside the penalty area after collecting a pass from the left and creating space.
With over half an hour still to go any scoreline looked possible, but Wilson blocked a Griffiths shot with his legs, Akuamoah produced a magnificent piece of defending to chase back the length of the pitch and force Martin into shooting wide after Griffiths had led another damagingly quick counter-attack, and U's managed to organise themselves well enough to stem the flow towards their goal.
Indeed, with some of the younger players showing great spirit in adversity they put together a few good moves without seriously threatening a goal, although on another day crosses from Nigel Brake and Danny Dray - the latter making his first senior appearance of the season - might have been met with a finishing touch.
Another huge blow came with 19 minutes left however, as Vansittart took exception to being penalised for handball by assistant referee Chris Phillips and produced a protest that referee Stephen Fay decided merited instant dismissal after a conversation between the two officials.
U's ten men battled hard and held out until the 82nd minute, but then Griffiths' well timed pass released Mitchell Cole on the left edge of the area, and after some neat footwork along the byline he set Martin up for an easy chance to complete his hat-trick with the 11th goal scored by Grays in the league against U's this season.
Sutton:P Wilson, M Gray (sub D Dray 47), L Gonsalves (sub G Tydeman 20) , S Corbett (sub C Nurse H-T), J Scarborough, N Brake, C Watkins, P Honey, R Bouadji, J Vansittart, E Akuamoah.
Sent Off: Vansittart (71 - remark made to official).
Grays: A Bayes, J Bruce, J Nutter, J Stuart, L Matthews, S Thurgood, D Brennan (sub M Cole 59), D Oli (sub G Hooper 47), L Griffiths, S West(sub T Battersby 75), J Martin Subs n/u: C Emberson, V Powell.
Goals: Martin (9, 17, 82), Griffiths (47), Brennan (54), West (56).
Referee: S Fay (Luton)
Attendance: 524
