Ten-man United secure a point (From Sutton Guardian)

Ten-man United secure a point

11:40am Monday 10th December 2007

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Welling United 0 Sutton United 0

Sutton United battled all the way to earn a point at Welling United on Saturday.

They had to survive late pressure from the home side after Jason Henry was sent off 12 minutes from time following an off-the-ball incident with home defender Chris Moore.

A draw was probably the right result to a game in which the effort of both sides outweighed the achievement, and the defences had the better of things, helped by both forward lines squandering a number of opportunities.

Playing down the slope in the first half, United had the better openings, although Orlando Smith and Charles Ademano were always dangerous on the counter attack.

Both ended swift breaks with shots that Phil Wilson had to save.

After an early run and shot from Warren McBean had drawn a good save from Jamie Turne,r it was Henry who provided United's main threat, pouncing on a misplaced pass to cut through the home defence, but firing his low cross too close to Turner, who pushed it away from the onrushing Craig Dundas.

Henry then surprised McBean by taking the ball off him as he again cut in from the right, firing in a 20-yard shot that was pushed over by Turner.

But Henry should have done better with a free header from a Paul Honey cross which he put disappointingly wide.

Early in the second half it was the turn of Dundas to prove wayward, mis-hitting one shot that gave Turner a comfortable save and the skying the ball over the top after McBean had set up a clear chance.

As the half went on United found themselves more on the defensive and Wilson had to dive bravely to fist away a cross from the left as Omari Coleman lunged in looking for the touch.

Apart from that, and a Stuart Nethercott header that went narrowly over they had few real scares, with Lewis Gonsalves and Jack Haverson both impressing.

The task became harder with 12 minutes left when Moore was left on the ground after a clash with Henry that seemed to involve an attempted headbutt.

Although Henry would have needed a stepladder to inflict the damage suggested by the tall centre back's reaction, the intent was sufficient to persuade referee Chris Williams to produce a red card.

The Aylesbury official was the busiest person on the pitch after that, booking Nicky Greene for kicking the ball away after Greene had seen a what looked an excellent tackle harshly penalised, Gonsalves for arguing over the same decision, and then Welling's Michael Boakye and Neil Smith for fouls.

Smith's was a wild challenge that could easily have led to a 10-a-side finish.

Welling piled forward looking to make the extra player count, but Orlando Smith's low cross evaded the onrushing Boakye, and with virtually his only touch substitute Jackson Ohakam blasted over the top after a cleared corner had landed at his feet.

United could have snatched all the points, though, after Dundas produced an electrifying run up the hill from deep inside his own half but with McBean in support and screaming for a pass that would have given him a clear shooting opportunity, Dundas opted for the solo approach and his shot was comfortably saved by Turner.

Welling: J Turner, L Solomon, R Ryan, R Carpenter, S Nethercott, C Moore, O Smith(sub J Ohakam 87), N Smith, O Coleman(sub M Boakye 62), L Blackman, C Ademano. Subs n/u S Keevill, J Crawford, M Powell. Booked: Boakye(85-foul), N Smith(88-foul).

Sutton: P Wilson, D Sammut, J Scarborough(sub A Bray 82), L Gonsalves, J Haverson, B Alimi, N Greene, P Honey, W McBean (sub H Ottaway 89), C Dundas, J Henry. Subs n/u R Hughes, O Opara, G Williams. Booked: Alimi(57-foul), Greene(84-dissent), Gonsalves(84-dissent). Sent Off: Henry(78-violent conduct).

Referee: C Williams (Aylesbury) Attendance: 437

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