Long Sutton Athletic finally registered their first win of the ChromaSport PDFL season on Saturday as they beat Netherton United Reserves 2-0 to progress in the Chairman Championship Shield.
A Mark Garner strike and an own goal were enough for the Magpies at London Road, as they shrugged off Wednesday night’s 3-1 Division One loss at home to Moulton Harrox Reserves.
Having suffered four losses from six league outings, Sutton player/boss Matt Cawthorn feels like the tide is slowly turning for his charges after Saturday’s shield success.
Cawthorn said: “Saturday was a welcome relief from the stress and strain of the league – even at this early stage.
“The club was boosted by the news that Billy Radeloff was going to stay on as a player after stepping aside as joint boss the previous week and also missing the Moulton Reserves game midweek.
“We made a couple of changes and really went to get at Netherton with power and pace – and within the first 30 minutes we should have had five or six goals.
“The team really do create chances, but somehow we only scored two. But, looking at our results, we’ve at least stopped conceding three or four goals a game. That’s bar the Moulton match, which just was disappointing decisions from the official.
“Hopefully we have turned a corner, we have played a lot better than on Saturday and lost, so we knew a bit of luck was going to come our way.
“But for 70 minutes we were far the better side.”
Long Sutton now hope to take that form into this weekend’s tricky trip to Stamford Belvedere (2pm).
The Queen Eleanor School-based side are fourth in the early standings after winning three of their opening five games – including a 2-1 success over King’s Cliffe last time out.
Sutton could end the day in the bottom two if results go against them, but will be hoping to climb the table with another positive result.
Sutton: Arimas, Wayman, King, Melton, Bennett, Allen, Radeloff, B Oliver, Ward, M Oliver, Garner. Subs: Cawthorn, Nyang, Treacher.
Match sponsor: Billy Radeloff.
- Declan Earth bagged a brace for Moulton Reserves in the above-mentioned Wednesday night win at Sutton.
John Ball also bagged for Harrox in front of 170 fans at London Road.
That win made it two wins from as many league matches for Kev Nottingham’s side.
Sutton: Taylor, Wayman, Ward, Bennett, Melton, Allen, Brandon, Moses, B Oliver, Treacher, Cawthorn. Subs used: Coote, Garner, M Oliver. Not used: Punter.
Harrox: Elderkin, Rose, Price, Patterson, Hall, Ball, Earth, Williams, L Steadman, Lambe-Hyner, Wheeler. Subs used: Farrell, Nichols, Sandall, West, Wiggins.
