Player/boss Matt Cawthorn told his Long Sutton Athletic players not to take their place in the team for granted after watching them labour to a 2-1 ChromaSport PDFL Division One win at Baston on Saturday.
Billy Radeloff’s cracking cross allowed skipper Billy Oliver to volley Sutton ahead on 35 minutes at the Goat Pen, but Steven Bratcher’s second-half penalty hauled the struggling hosts level.
However, the Magpies found a winner 25 minutes from time when Damien Ramm – who ran himself into the ground – delivered a cross for Sam Moses to finish.
The win keeps Sutton tenth, but Cawthorn – who missed the game through injury – feels they made hard work of it.
Cawthorn said: “On paper, we knew we should be taking three points – teams have been scoring four, five or six against Baston.
“But Saturday was a far cry away from comfortable. No game in this division is easy, some teams are big and physical, play direct football and others try to get the ball down and play – the latter describes us, I believe.
“In my opinion, our squad has the quality to easily sit comfortably in mid-table in the Premier Division. But a massive factor of that is being consistent – and Saturday proved that.
“We had 75 per cent possession first half, but the game had a typical Sunday morning tempo.
“It was slow and lethargic, and we were trying to overplay or play balls which were Hollywood. The second half was much the same, too. It certainly wasn’t a pretty game to watch, or our best performance of the season, but we set out to get three points and we did it.
“Credit to the boys, they dug in and we got the result, but I wasn’t satisfied with some of their attitudes, players need to realise in this league there are no easy games, and their shirts aren’t as safe as they think.
“We had four regulars missing on Saturday due to other commitments or injuries. We’re still in two cups and I want to finish as high up in the league as possible.
“I couldn’t fault the lads against Sutton Bridge United a few weeks ago, their attitudes were spot on, we need to get up for every game like we did that one.”
Sutton: Taylor, Ramm, Fitch, Brandon, Nicholson, Ward, Radeloff, Melton, W Oliver, M Oliver, Moses. Sub used: Rumsey.
Attendance: 15.
Saturday: Sutton v Oakham Res (2pm).
