3rd September 2019

Causing pandemonium in the visitors’ box early on with a succession of crosses and corners, United were lucky to come out of the opening quarter-of-an-hour unscathed. 

Having ridden their luck, Harry Beautyman then almost gave the U’s the lead but for a world-class save, prior to a second wave of pressure from the hosts that teased an opener was coming. 

However, successfully continuing to frustrate the Glovers past the hour-mark, a collective sigh of relief was made in BA22 when Tom Bradbury slammed home his first goal for the club with a little over 20 minutes remaining. 

With the South Londoners unable to offer anything in response, consecutive wins were confirmed in comfortable fashion.

Tinkering with the side that picked up a first win in four at the weekend, Liam O’Brien was handed a debut between the sticks with his experience preferred to that of youngster Marcin Brzozowski. 

Darren Sarll’s changes were completed by awarding a first start of the season to Academy graduate Gabby Rogers in for the injured Lawson D’Ath. Amongst the substitutes, fellow new arrival James Tilley started his career in green and white.

With the target being back-to-back wins for the first time this season, it was the hosts who went closest to taking an early lead with a spell of persistent pressure just past the 10-minute mark. 

Remeao Hutton was first to identify Sutton’s weakness from crosses, as his near-perfect low ball was just about swept behind for a corner, from which Charlie Lee had a header deflected just over the bar. 

Penning the visitors inside their own box, Carl Dickinson then recycled possession from another set-play and saw his low delivery deflected narrowly over Jamie Butler’s goal as Matt Gray’s side clung onto their clean sheet.

Struggling to deal with the fast tempo being inflicted on the match by the green and whites, the South London outfit sensed the impending danger and did their best to take the sting out of proceedings. 

With their plan seeing them through the midway point of the half, Sutton would’ve then taken the lead but for a stunning O’Brien save. 

Keen to impress on his first start the former Coventry stopper showed his agility to tip Beautyman’s shot from 12 yards over the bar after David Ajiboye pulled-back the ball from the byline. 

Using that warning as a trigger to put the pressure on once again at the other end, Rogers drilled a strike into the side netting from the angle before Courtney Duffus drove a volley two yards wide of the target. 

Following a familiar pattern, the U’s then set about slowing down proceedings as they successfully saw through the stalemate to the halfway point. 

With an encouraging opening 45 minutes from the Glovers only missing an opening goal, it was a disappointing display after the restart as they couldn’t rediscover the tempo that caused the U’s concern in the first-half. 

Becoming a tepid affair for the 2,279-strong crowd, Sutton’s rearguard action was having the desired effect before they were finally breached on 69 minutes. 

Duffus’ persistent work on the right resulted in a cross that picked out strike partner Gold Omotayo, and although his shot was blocked on the line it only momentarily delayed the lead being taken as Bradbury rippled the back of the net from a yard out.

Clearly deflated by the opener there was no response from Sutton, who almost fell further behind as the game ticked towards its conclusion. 

Having opened his account at the weekend Myles Hippolyte twice went close, having his venomous strike parried behind by Butler before seeing a deflected effort trickle just wide.

Purring with confidence there was only one team in it as the game drew to a close, the green and whites eventually settling for a single goal to continue their encouraging form.

Yeovil Town: O’Brien; Hutton (Alcock 90′), Wilkinson, Bradbury, Dickinson; Lee; Rogers (Tilley 63′), Worthington, Hippolyte (Skendi 90′); Duffus, Omotayo.
Bookings: Bradbury 25′, Hippolyte 62′, Duffus 71′.
Subs not used: Brzozowski, Whelan.

Sutton United: Butler; Eastmond, Goodliffe, Collins, Wyatt; Davis, Barden; Ajiboye (Kearney 88′), Beautyman, Tuson-Firth (Wright 79′); Jarvis (Dundas 85′).
Bookings: Jarvis 42′, Eastmond 71′, Davis 90′.
Subs not used: Dudzinski.