SUTTON UNITED
NON-LEAGUE Sutton struck three late blows to break Wimbledon hearts.
Ten-man Wimbledon thought they had booked a fourth-round clash with Leeds that would bring back memories following a furious battle with their neighbours.
Tom Elliott’s ninth-minute header was the goal that looked to have finally separated these two sides after a goalless draw in the first game.
But League One Wimbledon had to play with 10 men for 74 gruelling minutes after Paul Robinson was sent off for hauling down ex-Don Matt Tubbs. And they could not hold out, as Roarie Deacon span and shot from the edge of the area to bring delight to the non-League side’s fans at Kingsmeadow.
Then, in the 90th minute, Deacon set up Maxime Biamou, who fired in from close range. Dan Fitchett struck a third in added time to seal the underdog’s triumph.
Dons manager Neal Ardley had looked to have organised his side superbly after they went down to 10 men, and Wimbledon were on the brink of having a chance for revenge for that famous tie in 1975, when as a nonLeague side they held the then mighty Leeds, then League champions to a goalless draw at Elland Road thanks to Dicky Guy’s famous penalty save – only to unluckily lose the replay.
Instead it will be Sutton facing the Yorkshire side, reprising their 1970 clash.
Since the nervy goalless draw in the first game on the 3G pitch at Gander Green Lane 11 days ago, Ardley’s side had beaten Oxford. National League Sutton’s away record did not inspire confidence, with only two wins on their travels all season.
But the non-League side were only five miles away from home last night.
Temperatures had dropped below freezing at Kingsmeadow, but Sutton almost warmed their fans up straight away as Roarie Deacon set up Craig Eastmond, but Dons goalkeeper James Shea dashed out to block superbly with his feet. Then Matt Tubbs curled a shot an inch wideBut within a minute the League side made Sutton pay. Dean Parrett curled a free-kick into the area and Tom Elliott found space to thump his header home.
Then, though, disaster for League One Wimbledon. Centre-back Paul Robinson miscontrolled, then hauled back Tubbs when he was clean through. Referee Chris Sarginson waved the red card and Wimbledon were down to 10 men.
It was a massive boost for the non-League side, who attacked with verve and invention.
These two sides were normally good neighbours – AFC’s first ever game as a club in 2002 was a friendly at Sutton – but suddenly there was an edge to the game, as Deacon and Dan Spence were both booked for the nonLeaguers. James Collins curled in a free-kick, but Dons keeper Shea was once again in the right place – but at the other end, Sean Kelly flicked just wide. Sutton had a glorious chance to level the scores straight after halftime, as Craig Eastmond’s shot was saved by Shea, but Bedsente Gomis somehow put the rebound wide.
Wimbledon were dangerous on the break, and the tackles by this stage were flying in – Lyle Taylor flattened by one challenge from Eastmond that provoked fury on the AFC bench.
WIMBLEDON (4-4-2): Booked: Goal: SUTTON (4-4-2): Sent off: