Sutton United 1-0 Dover Athletic - We've got more important things to worry about - EXCLUSIVE

SUTTON UNITED 1-0 DOVER ATHLETIC
FA Carlsberg Trophy Third Qualifying Round Replay
Tuesday 27^th November 2007
Stephen McCartney reports from Gander Green Lane

Dover Athletic were dumped out of the FA Trophy by a poor Sutton United side tonight - but skipper John Keister believes it’s a “blessing in disguise” so the club can concentrate on clinching promotion.

A crowd of just 314 saw the struggling Blue Square South club celebrate their only home win of the season at Gander Green Lane, as missed chances cost
Dover Athletic dear.

Sutton United, a side that’s rooted to the foot of the Blue Square South table on just 6 points from 16 games, will welcome Blue Square Premier outfit Forest Green Rovers in the first round in two weeks time.

But in truth, it should have been the Ryman League Division One South leaders, Dover Athletic, that should be welcoming Jim Harvey’s side instead.

But Jason Henry, a striker who wears the number five shirt, proved to be Sutton’s saviour, as he did what the Dover Athletic players didn’t do - put the ball in the back of the net.

Dover Athletic, however, feel aggrieved as David Wilkinson was on the receiving end of a foul, as Henry was on hand to fire the ball past the goalkeeper to score the only goal of the game eleven minutes into the second half, following a low cross from Craig Tanner.

The first half was uneventful with Sutton United having the best chance of a dull half, after fifteen minutes.

A cross from Henry on the right was met by Nicky Green, whose fierce shot was brilliantly tipped over by Wilkinson, on loan from Crystal Palace.

Henry and Green both blazed high over Wilkinson’s goal as the first half lacked any quality.

Dover Athletic didn’t trouble Phil Wilson in the Sutton goal, as Alan Pouton drilled a shot past the post, and later in the half, Craig Cloke drilled a shot from the edge of the box, which was blocked inside a crowded penalty area, after Pouton dummied a Jon Wallis’ flag-kick.

Although Sutton United kept the same starting eleven that earned a 1-1 draw at SeaFrance Crabble Stadium on Saturday, Dover Athletic boss Andy Hessenthaler made a couple of changes.

Craig Wilkins and Pouton, who finished Saturday’s game, made way for Matt Bourne and James Rogers, who were relegated to the bench tonight.

Thankfully, the second half sparked into life very early, and Henry sent a volley just over the crossbar after Tanner whipped in a cross from the left.

But Lee Browning, who was forced off later with a hamstring strain, squandered an excellent chance to break the deadlock after just 200 seconds into the second half.

Latching onto a ball over the top, the former Sittingbourne striker, rounded the advancing Sutton goalkeeper, who had rushed off his line.

But facing an open-goal, Browing’s right-footed shot lacked conviction as it rolled towards the far corner, enabling Tanner to get back to blaze the ball over his own crossbar before it crossed the line.

“He won’t like me for saying it, because he had a great game tonight, but young Lee Browning, when he went through, I think missing that chance was the catalyst for them to go on and score a goal,” said Darren Hare, Dover Athletic’s assistant manager, speaking EXCLUSIVELY to www.kentishfootball.co.uk afterwards.

That miss proved costly, however, as former Croydon striker Henry, scored the decisive goal as his club banked £3,000 in prize money.

Later on, after 66 minute, the hosts missed a rare goalscoring opportunity when Warren McBean, who scored Sutton’s goal on Saturday, headed agonisingly over the crossbar as he ghosted in at the far-post to head Jack Haverson’s cross-come-shot over.

But Dover Athletic will rue the chances that they squandered as they tried to salvage something out of this third qualifying round replay.

A trade-mark bullet header from Wilkins, coming up from his defensive duties for Wallis’ corner, was the closest Dover came, a Sutton defender stabbing the header off the line at the right-post after 67 minutes.

James Dryden had a couple of chances to add to his thirteen goals already this season, drilling a shot straight at Wilson from an acute angle, and being denied by a fine last ditch tackle from Tanner on the edge of the box as the former Folkestone Invicta striker burst through the middle.

Frannie Collin connected with Matt Fish’s cross from the right but could only find Wilson, who prevented an extra thirty minutes when, in stoppage time, he tipped Dryden’s bullet header over his crossbar as Sutton United snatched a morale boosting victory under new boss Ernie Howe.

“I didn’t think they were a poor side Saturday, I thought it was pretty even but I thought we made them look a little poorer side today,” admitted Hare.

“I thought we defended much better than we did on Saturday and apart from one great save that David Wilkinson’s had to make in the first half, he’s not had much to do, so I’m disappointed for the boys.

“I think second half my feeling is we got mugged really!”

Reflecting on the only goal of the game, Hare admitted he couldn’t see the foul  from his position in the technical area.

“It was a bit too far away for me to see to be fair,” he said. But he added: “The performance was good, especially second half where we carved out seven, eight, decent chances but we’ve got to start finishing those. We’ve got to be more composed in the attacking third.”

But Sutton United, under new management, will hope tonight’s win is the inspiration they need to climb the Blue Square South table.

If not, they will be playing Dover Athletic in the Ryman Premier League next season, as Hare explains.

“We said, sort of tongue in cheek as we were walking off “see you next season” but it’s difficult for Ernie (Howe) to be fair,” said Hare.

“He’ll be delighted with that result, even the woo of the crowd at the end when the whistle went “Christ we’re two leagues below them and how delighted they were when the whistle went to get a win under their belts” - so that’s how tough they’ve been finding things!”

Despite their exit, Dover Athletic chairman Mr Jim Parmenter has more important things on his mind during this season.

“I don’t like losing football games, I don’t care what they are, but obviously the league’s our priority so now we can concentrate on that,” he said afterwards.

When asked if he was disappointed not to be welcoming Forest Green Rovers on 15^th December in the first round, Mr Parmenter added: “No. Not really! Our ambitions are to win the league this year.

“I think we gave it a good go from a club two leagues above us. We’ve taken them to a replay and we’re unfortunate to lose that replay.

“I’m satisfied with that and we’ll move on now onwards and upwards towards the league.

“I would be more upset had this been a league game!”

Skipper John Keister, 37, felt Sutton’s winner should have been ruled out.

“To be honest we’ve come here on the back of Saturday’s game and to be honest the first half wasn’t the best,” he said.

“We’ve come out second half and had a right go as well, but I’ll be honest, the referee’s been very, very disappointing today and that’s my only disappointment to be honest.

“They’ve got a goal from nothing and that was a blatant foul. The referee’s waved away and that was the only chance they got, apart from the one they had first half.”

But longer-term Keister believes tonight’s exit will be beneficial for the Kent club.

“To be honest it was going to be one of them games,” he said. “Forest Green at home, but then again it could be a blessing in disguise.

“Just get the cup out of the way and then just concentrate on the league, which is our priority to win it at the end of the season.

“So I think it’s a good thing in a way but obviously disappointed with the result."

He added: “If we came here today and lost to a good side we could have took that but the referee’s cost us again to be honest, so that’s the only disappointment.”

Sutton United: Phil Wilson, Dean Sammut, Craig Tanner (Lewis Gonsalves 87), Tom Hughes, Jason Henry (Liam Wright 82), Jack Haverson, Paul Honey, Nicky Green (Rob Hughes 72), Alieu Jallow, Warren McBean, Bashiru Alimi.
Subs: Harry Ottaway, Gareth Williams.

Goal: Jason Henry 56

Booked: Jason Henry 45

Dover Athletic: David Wilkinson, Matt Fish, Sam Gore, Craig Wilkins, Craig Cloke, John Keister, Jon Wallis, Alan Pouton (Andy Hessenthaler 45), James Dryden, Frannie Collin, Lee Browning (Byron Walker 80).
Subs: James Rogers, Matt Bourne, Gavin Wright.

Booked: Craig Wilkins 54, Craig Cloke 57, John Keister 58, Jon Wallis 90.

Attendance: 314
Referee: Mr Warren Atkin
Assistants: Mr Charles Breakspear & Mr Mark Ford