WE WILL KEEP U’S GROUNDED
ASSISTANT manager Jason Goodliffe insists his Sutton United players will keep their feet firmly on the ground despite cutting the gap at the top of the National League table to just one point with another impressive fightback on Tuesday night.
The title-chasing U’s produced a late show for the second midweek running, following up last week’s dramatic victory at Dagenham & Redbridge with a tense 3-2 success over local rivals Bromley, courtesy of two goals in the final four minutes. Last week it was Harry Beautyman’s stoppage-time penalty which secured a 2-1 win at Dagenham, but this it was the turn of Will Randall to take the spoils as the U’s twice came from behind to claim a fifth straight league victory. The National League’s top scorer, Michael Cheek, gave Bromley a 14th-minute lead – his 15th goal of the season – only for Craig Eastmond to cap his 250th appearance for the club with an equaliser ten minutes into the second half. Courtney Duffus then reclaimed the lead for the Ravens, who looked to be heading for victory until Beautyman restored parity once again on 86 minutes. And just when it looked as though these two sides, just 12 miles apart, would not be separated, Randall saw his 93rd-minute effort deflect in off Byron Webster to spark mass celebration. “We’re delighted with the three points,” said Goodliffe, whose side still have two games in hand on leaders Torquay. “We started slowly and it took us a while to get going but, overall, I thought we deserved it. “Matt [Gray, manager] spoke to the boys at half-time and wanted them to settle down a bit and we played some great football in the second half. We had the blow of the second goal but responded really well again and got the two goals at the death. “The great thing about our lads is that they never get too high and never get too low. I’m not going to lie though, they enjoyed the win as we do every win, but, against our local rivals, it’s good to come in those circumstances. “It’s a cliché, but we’re just taking one game at a time, that’s all we can do. For us, it’s keeping the boys on a level playing field, making sure they train well and go into games performing at their best. And if they keep giving us everything they’ve got when we can’t ask for any more.” The U’s also moved two points clear of Hartlepool United in third after t h e y were held to a 1-1 draw at FC Halifax Town. Mark Shelton gave Pools an early lead before Kieran Green equalised 13 minutes from time. The Shaymen were forced to hold on with ten men after Danny Williams was sent off late on. Notts County missed the chance to close in after they were held to a 2-2 draw at home to struggling King’s Lynn Town. A goal in the very first minute from Sonny Carey and a scrambled effort from Kairo Mitchell in the last earned the Linnets a point after Notts’ top scorer Kyle Wootton netted twice in the space of five first-half minutes. Ten-man Altrincham ended their five-match losing run with a 1-0 victory over Woking thanks to Matty Kosylo’s winner – this after having Tom Hannigan sent off on 34 minutes. In-form Yeovil Town moved into the top ten with a handsome 4-1 victory over strugglers Barnet, who played over an hour with ten men. Two goals in two minutes from Jimmy Smith and Billy Sass-Davies put the Glovers in control before JJ Hooper pulled a goal back on the quarter-hour mark. The Bees then had new striker Tomi Adeloye sent off for successive bookings and Yeovil made them pay with Rhys Murphy and Josh Neufville wrapping up the scoring. Connor Smith didn’t know whether to expect praise or his P45 after scoring the only goal in Wealdstone’s victory over Boreham Wood. Midfielder Smith is a former Wood player and is still employed by the Hertfordshire club as a Community Manager. Yet his 26th-minute effort severely dented Wood’s playoff hopes and helped the Stones to a first league win under caretaker boss Stuart Maynard and their first since November 10 – a run spanning 16 matches. Akwasi Asante’s winner four minutes from time helped Chesterfield to a 1-0 win over play-off chasing Eastleigh, while Dagenham & Redbridge made a welcome return to winning ways with Paul McCallum’s goal enough to earn victory at Solihull Moors by the same scoreline.