Swindon P.S.F.A. vs Sutton P.S.F.A. Berkshire League 17-12-11

Swindon squandered the chance to go top of the league after losing 4:1 at home. The visitors began brightly and almost took the lead with the first attack of the game. A swift move down the right ended with a cross which somehow evaded three Sutton players. The homesters responded positively with Philips, Hopper and Skinner combining well down the left but the Hopper’s cross was adjudged to have been handballed and the Surrey side were awarded a free kick. Five minutes later Swindon took the lead when Lawrence’s incisive pass found Hopper who calmly placed his shot past the Sutton ‘keeper. The homesters slowly began to dominate play but were unable to convert their chances. Lawrence skillfully evaded the attentions of two Sutton players before shooting narrowly wide. The visitors went close to leveling the score on two occasions before the break. The first came when Sewell’s shot from the right narrowly missed the far post. The second came from a corner, this time George jumped to punch the ball clear under pressure from two opposition players. Swindon should have doubled their lead before the break. A swift counter attack enabled White to sprint onto a through ball from Merchant but the no.7 was felled by a clumsy challenge just outside the box. Hopper took the resulting free-kick but Sutton’s custodian was equal to the shot. The homesters made a double substitution introducing Cremin for the hard working Brown and Tyson for the injured White. Sutton pushed for an equaliser but were thwarted by the alert Leach who intercepted a prospective through ball from the Sutton defence. Swindon pressed forwards and were denied a second goal when Hopper’s shot was cleared off the line by Essilfie-Conduah. Leach’s timely intervention turned a dangerous riposte from the visitors into a promising attack with Skinner forcing a corner. Moments later Broadbank saw his shot deflected wide. During the interval, Swindon were forced into making changes at the back, the injured Philips making way for McGinn. Their manager warned them of the threat from Sutton’s pacey front men and to mark tightly and put their guests under pressure. With only a slender lead though, Swindon knew they would need a second goal and Hopper went close shortly after the break his effort going into the side netting. Sutton worked hard to unlock Swindon’s defence and were rewarded six minutes after the re-start. George made a brave save but couldn’t prevent Van Dyck’s follow-up. Swindon countered almost immediately winning a corner but Tyson’s volley from Hopper’s cross went over. The homesters put together several promising attacks but all too often their attacks came down the same channel when switching the ball to the opposite flank could have created better opportunities to score. Sutton were growing in confidence and took the lead through Van Dyck who capitalised on some poor defending. Swindon battled back and White went close to leveling with a low left foot strike on the turn which was well saved by Sutton’s ‘keeper. The visitors were not content to sit on their lead but were frustrated by two fine tackles from Brown on the edge of the area. Sutton weren’t to be denied for long however and Van Dyck completed his hat-trick with ten minutes to go to seal the points. The visitors added a fourth to their tally through Basusi late on leaving Swindon to ponder on their missed chances in the first period and the lacklustre defending by some, in the second.