SUTTON PUNISH 10-MAN STONES
WEALDSTONE were left to regret a mad five minutes at the end of the first half as Sutton United continued their promotion charge in fine style.
Already trailing to Isaac Olaofe’s 20th minute goal, the Stones saw Ashley Charles sent off for a second yellow card five minutes before the break.
And by the time they reached the dressing room they found themselves three goals down as both Sutton centre-backs Ben Goodliffe and Louis John added to the scoresheet.
Although an early second half goal from Danny Parish hinted at a comeback, the U’s saw the game out comfortably and substitute Tobi Sho-Silva’s header eight minutes from the end put the gloss on a solid display.
“I thought we were excellent in the first half, both as a team and individually, and completely dominant,” said manager Matt Gray.
“We were disappointed to concede from a set-piece but I felt we saw the game out well and it was a good all round performance.’’
Stones’ caretaker boss Stuart Maynard felt the red card of Charles was crucial, adding: “We were in the game right until the sending-off, we had a game plan and it was working well.
“It’s a tough one to take as I felt we played well yet we will be talking about the officials’ impact on the game more.’’
The visitors had already questioned referee Scott Jackson’s judgement when he booked Alex Dyer for simulation as the midfielder went over in the penalty area.
Moments later they went behind when good work by David Ajiboye led to Craig Eastmond crossing and Olaofe bringing the ball down before sliding it past Harvey Isted.
The Wealdstone keeper made a fine save to keep out Goodliffe’s powerful volley, but Wealdstone’s afternoon began to disintegrate when Charles – already booked for a foul that stopped Omar Bugiel breaking away – fouled Bugiel again, prompting a second yellow, although the time between the foul and the card coming out suggested there may have been some dissent involved as well.
Within a minute, Goodliffe, not to be denied his first goal of the season, powered in a header from Jon Barden’s cross, and this was quickly followed by John scrambling the ball in when Isted failed to hold Rob Milsom’s low free kick.
John, however, slightly spoiled his moment with his reaction to a clash with Jack Cawley which earned him a booking, both players having been spoken to in the build-up.
Wealdstone’s ten men started the second half well as Parish headed in after Cawley had headed on from a free-kick, but they were unable to make any further inroads and it was U’s who looked more likely. Olaofe, John, Ajiboye, Eastmond and Sho-Silva all might have done better from good positions before Sho-Silva headed in from Eastmond’s cross to round off the victory.
STAR MAN: Craig Eastmond
(Sutton)
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★
REFEREE: Scott Jackson