RUTHLESS U’S SHOW NO MERCY
VERDICT: Often these games can be more awkward than the league table suggests but once in front, Sutton comfortably saw off a Guiseley side that look destined for the drop
TITLE-CHASING Sutton United cruised to victory while piling on the misery for managerless basement boys Guiseley.
Things might have been different had Jamie Butler not produced a superb save to deny John Rooney in the first half, but after Terell Thomas opened the scoring, Paul Doswell’s side never looked back.
Byron Harrison, Craig Eastmond and one from Harry Beautyman ensured a routine three points.
“We were probably a bit apprehensive beforehand as it is a game you’re expected to win,” U’s boss Paul Doswell said. “They [Guiseley] had a good result at Fylde on Tuesday night and that would have definitely lifted them coming here.
“We thought we’d have to be patient but in the end, it was a comfortable victory and it could have been a few more.
“It was a good team performance, not the best we’ve played by some way. We need to keep clocking these games off and keeping the pressure on. We can only do our bit.”
Perhaps feeling the effects of their midweek trip to Torquay, Sutton started slowly and after Kieran Cadogan’s shot was just about held by Guiseley keeper Coddington,
Butler crucially tipped wide Rooney’s excellent effort from range at the other end.
Sutton, however, soon kicked into gear and took the lead on 34 minutes when the Guiseley defence failed to deal with Cadogan’s long throw and centre-back Thomas had the easy task of tapping in from close range.
Moments later, another Cadogan throw caused panic in the area but this time Louis John’s shot was cleared off the line.
With Sutton in full flow, Tom Bolarinwa’s driving run ended in his shot being tipped over by Coddington and then John had a shot saved low.
The home side picked up from where they left off in the second half and after a mix-up in defence, Harrison was left to finish into an empty net.
Soon it was three – Bolarinwa ghosting to the byline before cutting the ball back for Eastmond to sweep home.
Relentless Sutton saw Walton’s header cleared off the line and then sub Tommy Wright struck a post.
Beautyman saved the best for last, scoring directly from a corner which looped over Coddington and in off the far post for number four. Liburd twice fired off-target to rescue any sort of consolation for the visitors, who remain 11 points adrift of safety. Caretaker player-manager Sean St Ledger said: “We came in at half-time really happy with the performance and disappointed we were behind. We had matched one of the best teams in the league. “Every goal was avoidable. The difference between Tuesday and today was the mistakes. We won’t get relegated losing to the likes of Sutton but we’ve got some big games coming up against the sides around us.” On staying in charge of the Lions, he added: “I’m taking it game by game and if the owner finds someone else to do the job then that’s fine, I’ll go back to being a player. “If he wants me to continue to do it, then I will.”
STAR MAN: Terell Thomas (Sutton) ATT: 1,915 ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★ REFEREE: Sam Purkiss 7/10