Mark Sanders reports on Saturday’s game for the opening game of the season.
Well, here we were, the first game of the new season against Thame United on a slightly overcast Saturday at Coles Lane. We were looking forward to an action-packed day with the right result at the end of course!

In the 3rd minute, Thame had a free kick, Liam Tach hits it but straight at the wall. Thame came straight back on the attack and hit the crossbar, Sutton cleared it and the resulting corner comes to nothing.

10 minutes in and a Sutton attack results in a corner which is taken by Hearsly, headed by Mutton, but goes straight to the keeper. 13 minutes in and Liam Tach crossed the ball in hard and low resulting in the ball cannoning off Mutton’s legs and into his own net. GOAL! Sutton score but sadly into our own net.

Half an hour gone and Hill (Thane United goalkeeper makes a blunder following a headed clearance, and Sutton fail to capitalise. John Letford had some good runs for Sutton, but sadly the final ball never came to fruition. He goes on to pick up the first yellow card of the game on 37 minutes with his foot in high when he went in for the ball. On any other day this would have been a 50/50 ball.

Sutton’s next chance came in the 43rd minute, where Nadat heads it wide. The half time whistle goes with Sutton 1-0 down They were still in the game but with a lot to do in the second half.

The second half started with a substitution for Sutton, with Houghton to replace Hearsey. 47 minutes in and Concannon, central to goal, chips over the crossbar. Letford ran down the wing causing Thame United problems, but lack of support meant the run was to no avail. 57 minutes and another yellow card was shown to Sutton, this time for Mutton for a foul on the keeper.

On the hour, disaster struck for us, with a tackle leaving two players on the ground. Palmer was alleged to raise his arm, and a Thame player makes the most of the situation with an Oscar winning performance which resulted in a straight red card for Palmer. This was a very harsh decision for Sutton. Thame made a sub straight after this, Evans for Goss, trying to take advantage of the situation, having an extra man.

in the 75th minute, Thame United extend their lead. This time a fluke goal. Our defence tried to clear the ball, but it ricocheted off Gledhill for Thame United. He knew nothing about this but it still went in. After this Thame add a low shot which Gwilliams put out for a corner; this was taken and deflected over the bar. In the 82nd minute, Baxter took a corner which Brown hammered into the back of the net.

Everyone thought Sutton could make a comeback, but in the 87th minute Tack struck back with a low drive into the corner. It was game over now and this was confirmed in the 89th minute by a goal from a corner by Martin. The score now 1-4 to Thame United, we all waited for the final whistle.

Today’s result did not reflect the game we all watched; the ref making a few questionable decisions, an unfortunate own goal and a lucky goal made me realise it just wasn’t going to be our day.

Man of the match for me was number 10, John Letford who ran tirelessly trying to create an opening for Sutton.

Chin up lads the fight is back on next week.

Come on you Royals.