Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Fizz goes out of cup challenge
Sutton were up for an over-the-border raid
Stephen Findlay admitted his Diamonds failed to sparkle as Sutton United’s cross- border raiders booked a place in the third round of the Irn-Bru Cup.
A first-half winner from Tommy Wright earned the English National League side a deserved win at the Penny Cars Stadium on Saturday.
Diamonds boss Findlay had travelled to south- east England last Tuesday night to watch Sutton beat Maidstone United and felt they had a good chance of progressing to the last 16.
And he conceded this was an opportunity lost for Airdrie as Paul Doswell’s men triumphed.
Findlay said: “There weren’t a lot of clear-cut chances for either side and a mistake for their goal has cost us a chance of getting into the next round.
“I thought we lacked some fire in our belly and we’re bitterly disappointed as we were looking forward to the challenge against a different type of opposition.
“We’re disappointed with our quality and our decision-making but from what I’ve seen there’s nothing there that says to me they are streets ahead of us.”
The Diamonds opted for the same side which started the 2-0 win at home to Stranraer.
But Sutton showed where their priorities lay by making half- adozen changes to the team which edged out Maidstone with top scorer Ross Lafayette left out.
A pre-match downpour ensured the south Londoners received a traditional Scottish welcome after completing the first leg of their epic 860-mile round trip.
And gaffer Doswell strode out onto the pitch before kick-off to applaud the 100 noisy Sutton fans who were clearly enjoying their day out in in Monklands Monklands.
Sutton were certainly up for it and looked strong, fit and sharp as they thundered into tackles and took the tie to the hosts.
But it was Airdrie who should have taken the lead in the 16th minute when Dale Carrick pounced on a mistake by Aswad Thomas and fired just wide of Ross Worner’s far post.
Sutton’s response was swift as they opened the scoring on the counter attack. Wright latched onto a long ball up the middle then outmuscled Kieran MacDonald before planting a shot into the bottom corner of the net.
Airdrie had a chance to level before the break but hitman Leighton McIntosh’s effort was well blocked by the alert Worner.
A good run from Wright in the 63rd minute set Sutton up again but his low drive was turned wide by Diamonds keeper David Hutton.
The Diamonds had one last chance to level in injury time but Carrick’s overhead kick was brilliantly saved by Worner.