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2002/03 MATCH REPORTS

2002/03 Reports:
Sutton v Crystal Palace XI (10/08/02)

United concluded their pre-season matches with a heavy defeat to a Crystal Palace XI. The first half was dominated by Palace, who fielded a team of youth and reserve players as the first team travelled to Preston for their season opener. The scoring began in the seventh minute, Gareth Williams calmly rounding Tommy Dunn to slot the ball home for the visitors and Sutton thought they were level a minute later only for a late offside decision to rule out Nick Bailey’s goal. A free header at the back-post gave Williams his second of the match after fifteen minutes and, on the half hour, he shot past Dunn from a tight angle to complete his hat-trick and give Palace a three goal cushion at the break. Half time: U’s 0, Palace 3.

Sutton looked more positive in the second half but conceded a fourth goal three minutes after play had restarted. A good period of pressure from United looked to have been wasted - Mark Watson, who has now rejoined the club, and Matt Hanlan both firing straight at the ‘keeper. Danny Bolt also tested the ‘keeper from twenty yards before he thumped a free-kick on the edge of the area into the bottom corner to restore some pride for the U’s in the seventy-third minute. Two minutes later, though, a header from Williams added a fifth for Palace and that’s the way it finished: U’s 1, Palace 5.


Left, Ryan Palmer challenges a Palace forward.
Right, Danny Bolt watches his free-kick scream towards the bottom corner.


U’s v Hampton & Richmond (17/08/02)

Glorious sunshine greeted the players and supporters of both sides as United got the season proper underway with a deserved victory against Hampton & Richmond Borough.

There was little in the way of clear-cut chances for either side in the opening minutes, Hampton reduced to harmless long-shots and Mark Watson and Matt Fowler toiling upfront for United without reward. Sutton had a chance to open the scoring around the twenty mark, though, when Danny Bolt ran past two defenders but his pass across the box was deflected off for a corner. Nearing the half-hour, Fowler’s hard work up front was rewarded when he was brought down near the corner-flag. From the resulting Bolt free kick, Lewis Gonsalves flicked the ball goalwards and it was turned in by Watson. A minute later, United had an appeal for a penalty turned down, the Hampton defender appearing to handle the ball near the penalty spot before clearing it up the pitch. Half time: U’s 1, Beavers 0.

In the second half, Sutton continued to pose problems for the Hampton defence with their accurate crossing. Watson had two chances to add to his tally but could only head at Hampton ‘keeper, Andy Iga, just after the break and over the bar later on. Danny Hodges could also have added a second for Sutton, his header from a Bolt corner flashed just past the angle. Ten minutes into the half, Tommy Dunn kept the visitors from equalising at the other end when he tipped over an ambitious lob and, shortly afterwards, Sutton may have thought they had created a two goal cushion but Fowler had been signalled offside long before he knocked the ball past Iga. With ten minutes to go, Scott Corbett almost scored the second goal United’s performance merited when his shot from the corner of the area hit the side netting but, in the end, Sutton will welcome the three points after an inconsistent pre-season campaign. Full time: U’s 1, Beavers 0.

Team: Dunn, Gonsalves, Palmer, Hodges, Holland, Beale, Bolt, Honey, Corbett, Watson, Fowler (Hanlan).

Goal: Watson 29 mins.

Attendance: 543


Left, Mark Watson gets ready to turn the ball home for Sutton's goal.
Right, Danny Hodges heads the ball just over Andy Iga's goal.


U’s v Harrow Borough (26/08/02)

In today’s bank-holiday fixture, United secured a comfortable win over Harrow Borough to move to fifth place in the league.

Danny Bolt’s crosses and free kicks were a constant source of trouble for the Harrow defence in the first half. Matt Fowler went close with a header on one occasion - just not getting enough behind the ball. Danny Hodges’s aerial presence in the box was also unsettling for the visitors – his looping header towards the six yard box from a Bolt corner after fifteen minutes was met by the head of Mark Watson, but his effort was deflected wide by a Harrow defender.

Tommy Dunn was rarely tested in the United goal in the first forty-five minutes, never being required to produce a quality save. Ryan Palmer was typically solid at centre-back and Lewis Gonsalves made a number of brilliant tackles – performances that they carried through into the second half. Just before half time, Watson and Hodges both got on the end of Bolt corners but were unable to break the deadlock. Half time: U’s 0, Harrow 0.

Sutton started the second half well, enjoying the majority of the possession and tested Andy Pape in the Harrow goal with a number of crosses. Pape, a United player during the 98/99 Championship season, provided some light entertainment with his quick fire jovial responses to the Sutton fans. After a debatable free kick was awarded to Harrow:

Pape: You can go ten yards further yet.
U’s Fan: Your eyes have gone bad, Papey.
Pape: (Pointing at Referee) Not as bad as his!
U’s Fan: That’s true!

The Harrow ‘keeper was not smiling for long, though, as Fowler gave Sutton the lead just after the hour mark. A ball up field to Watson was headed on towards Fowler and he rifled it left-footed past a helpless Pape from just inside the area. “Now, if we can just hold the lead for the next half hour.”

United continued to dominate the play, Bolt testing Pape from twenty yards with a scorching drive and Fowler and Bolt both making inroads into the visitors box but the final ball was lacking on both occasions. Then, after seventy-two minutes, Hollands won a free kick on the left wing and Corbett’s in-swinging set piece was met at the near post by Danny Hodges, who headed sublimely into the top corner – his first goal for the club. “Two-nil - we’ll settle for that.”

After a Harrow forward had forced Dunn into a brilliant diving save with a low shot from outside the box, The U’s began to push for the goal that would put the result beyond doubt. Some neat footwork on the edge of the area from Fowler resulted in him shooting high and wide but minutes later Bolt passed the ball to Fowler and he knocked it between two defenders to Watson who met the ball with a thumping right footed half-volley - Pape had no chance. “Three-nil… Have it.”

U’s: Dunn, Beale, Palmer, Hodges, Hollands, Honey, Bolt, Corbett, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves.

Goals: Fowler (61), Hodges (72), Watson (80).

Att.: 491


Left, Matt Fowler slams home Sutton's opener.
Right, Danny Hodges gets ready to head United 2-0 ahead.


U’s v Ford United (03/09/02)

Sutton continued their useful start to the season by beating Ford United by four goals to one. United were inspired to victory by Danny Bolt, who worked tirelessly in midfield and produced an early contender for goal of the season.

Despite the U’s having a couple of early chances – Matt Fowler shooting wide from eighteen yards when clear through the best – Ford probably shaded the possession in the opening twenty-five minutes and certainly went closest when a well-worked free kick struck the outside of Tommy Dunn’s post with the U’s ‘keeper beaten.

Just before the half-hour, though, Scott Corbett tapped a free kick forty yards out to Bolt and his left-footed screamer went straight into the top corner past the helpless Ford goalkeeper. It was a goal straight out of the top drawer – the type U’s fans had got used to seeing from Bolt during his first spell at the club and had sorely missed until his return.

Sutton could not hold the lead until half-time – a chipped ball into the United area after forty-three minutes was headed towards the six yard box and met by the head of the Ford number six for the equaliser. At the break: U’s 1, Ford 1.

Seven minutes after the resumption, United reclaimed the lead – Bolt’s corner was met by Danny Hodges and the ball fell to the feet of Mark Watson, who scrambled the ball across the line.

Watson added his second fifteen minutes later, Bolt the provider again as his corner drifted beyond the outstretched arm of the Ford goalkeeper and Watson’s perfectly timed run allowed him to connect with a thumping header that crashed off the underside of the bar and into the back of net.

With Watson now on a hat-trick, Sutton let their grip on the game slip and Ford momentarily began to threaten. They were unable to find a way back into the game though and a goalkeeper error put them out of contention when Bolt’s corner, seemingly caught easily by an unchallenged Harvey, was fumbled beyond the line.

Minutes later, Bolt almost caught out Harvey again, when a free kick wide on the left nearly found its way over Harvey but this time his catching ability was as normal. With minutes left, United win another corner and Bolt looks up and smiles after I shout ‘Shoot’ – unfortunately United’s tally remains at four but if one man in the team could pull it off its Bolt – something to watch out for as the season progresses perhaps! Full-time: U’s 4, Ford 1.

Team: Dunn, Beale (Gray), Hollands, Palmer, Hodges, Honey, Bolt (Hanlan), Corbett (Bailey), Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves.

Goals: Bolt (29), Watson (52, 68), Harvey o.g. (80).

Att.: 463


Left, Mark Watson calls for the ball as Matt Fowler beats a Ford defender.
Right, Danny Bolt chips the ball goalwards during a Sutton attack.


U’s v Chesham United (10/09/02)

The phrase ‘a game of two halves’ has never been more appropriate than it was this evening at Gander Green Lane as Sutton came from two goals down to beat Chesham with three second half goals.

United were second best in the first half, though, as the Chesham midfield outpaced and outpassed the U’s and opened the Sutton defence up early on, only for the menacing cross to be headed onto Andy Pape’s right post. Sutton attempted to battle into the game but our best chance of a goal always seemed to be from a Danny Bolt set-piece – indeed, at one stage, Bolt almost upstaged his effort against Ford last week when his long shot was tipped over by the Chesham ‘keeper.

Chesham took the lead just after the half hour – as the United defence backed off the visitor’s forward, he chipped the ball over Pape from twenty yards. Paul Honey’s competitiveness lead to him being booked when he went in hard on a Chesham midfielder and a minute before half-time he may have found himself heading for an early bath but he was not penalised for an innocuous trip for which the referee awarded Chesham a penalty. Their number ten converted the spot kick. Half-time: U’s 0, Chesham 2.

In the second half, United played with more purpose but for the first fifteen minutes were still unable to make a breakthrough. With Sutton in need of some inspiration, Rains introduced Nick Bailey and Dave Timothy in place of Darren Beale and Honey and it had a positive effect on the team, seemingly freeing up space for Bolt to get forward. In the sixty-seventh minute, Bolt was allowed room to turn thirty yards out, and he chipped a pass to Matt Fowler who shot home from ten yards.

After some crunching tackles by Chesham players – and a mad moment where a Chesham idiot pushed over our physio without punishment – the U’s fans really started to get behind the team. Sutton began to string some good passing sequences together and, after working the ball into the area, Bailey was brought down and United had the chance to level. Bolt stepped up to take the penalty and calmly slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

From two goals down, the U’s were now pushing for the win and looked to have it when Timothy crossed to Mark Watson and he headed firmly towards the far corner. Unfortunately, the Chesham ‘keeper managed to turn the ball wide with help from the woodwork. He couldn’t prevent a U’s win,though, when, with four minutes remaining, Bolt’s cross from the right wing was met by Fowler and his header found the back of the net.

Three-two, and United could have had more, Fowler had a half-chance for his hat-trick and Watson certainly should have made it four when clean through, but his shot went wide. The U’s fans go home happy – that’s four wins from four at Gander Green Lane.

Team: Pape, Beale (Timothy), Hollands, Palmer, Hodges, Honey (Bailey), Bolt, Corbett, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves.

Goals: Fowler 67, 86, Bolt 75 (pen)

Att: 484


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