Sutton Common Rovers 1-3 SE Dons - I'd like to follow my brothers footsteps and make it to Wembley for the FA Vase Final and we just want to keep making history, says SE Dons manager Antonio Gonnella

Sutton Common Rovers 1 – 3 SE Dons
Location	War Memorial Sports Ground, Colston Avenue, Carshalton, Surrey SM5 2PW
Kickoff	09/10/2026 19:45

SUTTON COMMON ROVERS  1-3  SE DONS
The FA Vase First Round
Friday 9 October 2026
Stephen McCartney reports from Colston Avenue

SE DONS manager Antonio Gonnella says he'd like to follow his brothers footsteps to make it to Wembley Stadium for The FA Vase Final in May.

Ennio Gonnella’s AFC Whyteleafe lost 2-1 after extra time to Jamie Coyle’s Whitstable Town in 2025 and celebrated back-to-back promotions and are currently in the bottom four in the seventh-tier Isthmian League Premier Division after 10 games.

SE Dons have beaten Little Common (4-0) and tenth-tier Greenways (3-1) to reach this stage of the competition, while Sutton Common Rovers have defeated Reigate Priory (4-0).

Jointly-managed by Lee Flavin and Darren Salmon, Sutton Common Rovers went into this First Round tie sitting in sixth-place in the Combined Counties League Premier Division South table with 19 points (five wins, four draws and three defeats) and have now extended their winless run to four.

SE Dons arrived in Carshalton on the back of a wonderful 5-1 win at Weymouth in The FA Cup Third Qualifying Round last weekend – although they were knocked out of the London Senior Cup by Isthmian Premier Division side Cray Valley in midweek, losing 3-1.

Sutton Common Rovers – in front of their largest crowd of the season of 459 – were the better side throughout the first half and took an early lead when impressive striker James Anderson rifled in his seventh goal of the season, from the penalty spot.

However, the introduction of big striker Femi Akinwande, 31, scared the living daylights out of the home side’s defence and striker Joshua Bohui, 27, showed ruthless finishing in front of goal by scoring a 20 minute hat-trick to send SE Dons through.

“I thought we started a little bit slow,” admitted Gonnella.

“I thought what’s happening when we’re playing teams that are similar to our level is they started the game very fast and very sharp because they’re very up for it but we know our quality would shine through in the end, which it did.

“I thought we missed a hell of a lot of chances today, in contrast to last week at Weymouth. We probably had six or seven chances and scored five and today we probably had at least 20 or 25 chances (it was really nine on target and four off target) and scored three, so but look, the win’s the most important.

“I feel like they were a hard-working side and they had speed in the right areas and they moved the ball.”

SE Dons created their first opening with 153 seconds on the clock when Bohui played a diagonal out to right-winger Joedon Gugas-Cowin, who twisted a turned left-back Kwadwo Kyei on the corner of the penalty area before putting in a low cross towards the near post where Bohui poked past the foot of the near-post.

Sutton Common Rovers went close (3:65) when impressive left-centre-half Ben Cook played the ball along the deck into Anderson, who wasn’t pressed and fizzed a low angled drive across the stranded George Kamurasi and just past the foot of the far post.

Sutton Common Rovers took the lead from the penalty spot with six minutes and 53 seconds on the clock.

Winger Daghan Basaranoglu floated a free-kick towards SE Dons’ high-line defensive shape and Cook won the initial header and had a second bite of the cherry and was fouled by SE Dons left-back Patrick McKay and referee Conor Griffin pointed to the spot.

Anderson stepped up and drilled his shot straight down the middle, with Kamurasi getting his legs to the ball as he dived to his right, but couldn’t prevent the ball hitting the roof of the net.

“I feel it was a penalty, what I felt though the ref should’ve given a foul to us before that happened on Reece (Barrett) but look it happens, we just got to move,” added Gonnella.

“I thought the goal gave them an extra boost and like I said, we started really slow but once we started getting the ball down and started playing our game, I think we controlled the game.”

Sutton Common created chances to add to their lead, as SE Dons appeared to be thinking about their trip to Sholing for a place in The FA Cup First Round at stake, for the very first time.

“Yes, I think it’s hard not to, you know.  We’re 90 minutes away from reaching The FA Cup First Round proper and I think it’s hard to keep your focus on every game,” admitted Gonnella.

“But we got the job done and that’s all that matters and now we can be excited to go in the next round and make more history.”

Right-back Cameron Lewis-Brown – who kept SE Dons’ winger Andre Coker in his pocket – played the ball into attacking midfielder Isaac Kamin, who cut in and fed winger Luke Rippoin, who played in Anderson, whose first-time right-footed shot deflected off Kamara and was comfortably gathered by Kamurasi between his legs.

SE Dons, who dominated the corner count by 12-1, called home keeper Oliver Davies into making a comfortable save (16:23).

Ralfie Hand ignored cutting the ball back to Coker and swung the ball in towards the near post which was punched away by Davies two-handed and Coker drilled his low left-footed angled drive through a crowd of players and the keeper made a comfortable save.

“I think their keeper played really well tonight, apart from obviously you can say he made one mistake, which lead to our second goal,” said Gonnella.

“I think their centre-backs though put their bodies on the line a lot in the first half.”

Kamurasi appeared to be struggling to get to Sutton Common’s attempts that went across him during the first half but was fine when shots were hit straight at him.

Centre-half Oliver Meadows played the ball out of defence into Rippon, who played the ball inside to central midfielder Ruebuan Zamorano, before Basaranoglu cut in and played a left-footed pass into Anderson, who took a touch and his angled drive deflected across the flat-footed keeper and rolled past the far post.

An open first half, SE Dons called Davies into making a save (24:58) after some good wing-play from Gugas-Cowin won a free-kick within the right channel.

Holding midfielder Hand cut the resulting free-kick back for right-back Ryan Palmer, who cut along the 18-yard line and his left-footed drive went through the crowd of players for the Sutton Common keeper to save comfortably again.

SE Dons’ threat down the left didn’t come from Coker but left-back McKay, who’s driving runs was more of a threat to Lewis-Brown.

Centre-half Barrett played the ball out to Gugas-Cowin, who cut the ball back to Bohui, who crossed to McKay and his shot from 18-yards took a nick and was comfortably saved by Davies.

Bohui had his pocket picked inside the SE Dons half by a pressing Kamin, who played the ball out to winger Basaranoglu, who looped his 30-yard drive, which was comfortably caught in Kamurasi’s midriff.

Sutton Common went very close to doubling their lead (37:13) when Basaranoglu’s right-footed free-kick was delivered into the penalty area and Kamin had his back to goal and laid the ball back to Meadows, who cut onto his right-foot and bent his shot around the far post from the curve of the D.

“I think they had chances and I didn’t feel like any of the chances were going to really hurt us – but like I said, they started the game a lot better than us and we have to be honest,” added Gonnella.

The dangerous McKay delivered a cross from close to the corner of the Sutton Common penalty area and Dominic Morgan-Griffiths jumped higher than Meadows and Kyei but his header sailed over the crossbar.

Hand recycled his initial free-kick back into the Sutton Common penalty area towards the back post, which was knocked across goal by a towering Bouhi and the ball bounced off a Sutton Common player and was grabbed two-handed by Davies from within a crowd of players inside his goal-mouth.

Kamara was penalised for his third foul on Anderson – who often dropped deep and linked up well with his team-mates – and a quickly-taken free-kick resulted in Zamorano drilling a low right-footed drive from 30-yards, which was once again comfortably gathered by Kamurasi.

The home side created yet another chance with the last kick of the first half.

Davies caught Morgan-Griffiths ball into his penalty area comfortably and threw the ball to Kamin, who broke and Rippon and Kamin linked up inside the SE Dons half before Zamorano cracked a right-footed drive straight at Kamurasi from 30-yards.

“So half-time was ‘let’s just stay relaxed’.  Not in an arrogant way but you have to be confident in the side and we just said, ‘stay relaxed and just go out there and do what we do and we’ve done it,’” revealed Gonnella.

“Our half-time approach was very calm. It was just stay relaxed and just do your job and do it the best you can.  We always know we’re going to score. I mean, we’ve scored in every (of our 16) games this season so we have faith.”

Gonnella’s wise words during the half-time interval had the desired affect as SE Dons put in a vastly-improved performance and dominated large chunks of the second half.

However, Sutton Common Rovers missed a glorious chance to change the outcome of the game (14:28).

Cook launched a long ball out of defence and over the top of a high Barrett to put Kamin through on goal but his right-footed shot (towards the top far corner) was superbly saved by Kamurasi, diving to his right to push the ball away.

“George has been magnificent this season. I think in every game he’s played he’s made saves that should be goals and he’s just done it again,” said Gonnella.

“He’s been, he’s the best keeper in, he’s going to hate me for saying this because we always banter each other but he’s one of the best keepers around still. I think he’s amazing!”

Gonnella had seen enough and hooked Coker (who let the game pass him by) and the introduction of Akinwande (15:06) made a swift impact, because SE Dons restored parity with 16 minutes and 21 seconds on the clock.

SE Dons produced a slick move when Bohui played the ball into Akinwande, who played in Bohui and the former Manchester United kid emphatically drilled his left-footed shot past Davies, just left of centre, from 16-yards.

“What led to that was at half-time we spoke about a solution we would do in the next 10 minutes and it was to put Femi up top, Josh in the 10 and as soon as we made that change and put Femi up top and Josh running off him, that’s when we started to get more joy,” explained Gonnella, who pulled off a tactical masterstroke.

“I mean, Josh has scored a lot of goals as the nine and sometimes you do need that hold up man and Josh can equally play in the 10, so he’s scored a hat-trick in the 10 tonight, so we needed that little bit of change, so I’m glad we done it.”

Sutton Common rarely threatened during the second half. Sub Liam Trevatt floated a free-kick in from the left towards the near-post where Zamorano flicked his free-header across the keeper and past the far post.

Sutton Common were well-marshalled in defence by Cook and they closed the door firmly shut (23:27) when Akinwande and Bohui linked up in and around the penalty area and Hand was played in but he poked the ball past the diving keeper and past the left-hand post.

The referee awarded SE Dons their seventh corner of the game as Davies took too long to take the resulting goal-kick  - 29 seconds after Hand poked his chance wide.

Dominant SE Dons took the lead with 26 minutes and 34 seconds on the clock.

Akinwande showed desire to win the ball off his man inside the Sutton Common half before poking the ball through to right-winger Aaron Watson, who drilled his shot across the keeper, who dived to his right to use a strong right-hand to push the ball away but the loose ball was pounced on by Bohui, who slotted his left-footed shot into the bottom near-corner from eight-yards.

“Josh is hungry, any chance you’re going to give him, he’s going to score and it started to open up a bit more for us.  The keeper, that was probably his only mistake in my opinion and Josh was there ready to pounce on it,” said Gonnella, who said Watson is 39 years of age, while the Transfermarkt site (which this website uses for footballers’ ages) has him down as being 45.

“I think Azza done well today, especially we moved him from the 10 to out wide and I think he was way more affective but he’s an amazing player.  Everyone forgets his age, he’s 39 and he was mazing today.  He might be 45, he might be lying to us!

Around 100 travelling fans were making a racket during most of the game and their side continued their dominance when Gugas-Cowin’s cross from the left was cleared away by Kamin and Morgan-Griffiths cracked his right-footed volley screaming over the top of the near-post from 30-yards.

Bohui notched his hat-trick, with 36 minutes and 33 seconds on the clock, with another clinical strike, following a well-worked move.

Morgan-Griffiths, Bohui and Hand all linked up inside the final third before Walter Figueira’s first-time through ball set up Bohui, who drilled his emphatic right-footed drive into the top left (near) corner from 12-yards, despite their being several Sutton Common players in and around their penalty area.

Bohui’s former clubs (including at youth-team level) include Brentford, Manchester United, NAC Breda (Netherlands), Colchester United, before dropping into non-league to play for Waltham Abbey, Hayes & Yeading United, Leatherhead, Chesham United, Dorking Wanderers B, Cheshunt, Sevenoaks Town and AFC Whyteleafe and ruthless finishing like this will not keep him in the ninth-tier for much longer.

“He’s on unbelievable form. We’ve got a lot of trust in him, which he asked me to and he’s having an amazing season,” added Gonnella.

“He’s such a good person as well. I know you have a lot of managers say that but he’s generally one of the nicest people I’ve met in football but he’s been amazing for us and long may it continue.  Fourteen goals and he’s been amazing, nothing more I can say about Josh.”

Substitute Figueira played the ball into Akinwande down the left, and he easily shrugged past Cook, before poking the ball to Watson, whose left-footed drive was punched over the bar by Davies’ outstretched left-hand.

Sutton Common Rovers were to be denied a second goal (43:09) when Casey Yusuff-Phillips played a one-two with Ben Edmunds and a slip from Kamara on the 18-yard line gave Yusuff-Phillips his big moment but Kamurasi came off his line and made yet another comfortable save.

“I think the striker probably panicked thinking a six foot seven Ugandan was coming out at him but I feel the second half we dominated the game.

“We was going to make even more changes to shore up our midfield but we felt quite comfortable if I’m honest, so yes, look, we got the win in the end and we’re through to the next round.”

There was still time for Morgan-Griffiths to crack his right-footed drive through a crowd of players from 30-yards, which forced Davies to dive to his right and use a strong right-hand to make the save.

Gonnella was asked what pleased him and what didn’t throughout this entertaining game at Colston Avenue.

“What didn’t pleased me was the slow start because we take teams like this lightly if I’m honest.

“What pleased me was going a goal down and coming back and staying positive and calm. Everyone stuck together and having faith in our side that was going to walk away with a win.”

SE Dons have the players in their squad that should go far in The FA Vase this season – although they survived a first half scare from Sutton Common Rovers.

“Honestly, I mean nothings easy. I think the squad we’ve got, we’re more than capable of going all the way,” admitted Gonnella.

“But what we’re doing in the FA Cup, you can arguably say to get to the First Round Proper, doing what we’re doing in the Vase, is probably, we should advance.

“I’d like to follow my brothers footsteps to make it to Wembley. We’ll see, it’s one game at a time.”

Gonnella reported that Zak Ansah is on the verge of returning from an Achillies injury that the 32-year-old picked up in pre-season, while central midfielder Billy Crook is expected to be ruled out for three months with a broken foot that he sustained in midweek.

Gonnella takes his side to Hampshire next Saturday to lock horns with Sholing in The FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.

Sholing stunned National League South side Ebbsfleet United with a 2-1 win at Stonebridge Road, while SE Dons have produced upsets to beat the likes of higher-league pair, Chichester City (3-2, Southern League Premier) and Weymouth (5-1, Southern League Division One South) both away from home.

“It’s just an exciting week to build up to. We’ll train on Wednesday and then we’ll travel up on Friday, stay in a hotel together, like we did last week and just go into the game and give it our all,” said Gonnella.

“It’s exciting, very exciting. I mean Tuesday game (Cray Valley, London Senior Cup) was a bit different.  That was all about getting boys minutes, if I’m completely honest. Fourteen changes we made and it was good because we got to rest players as well, which we’ve got a big squad, so it was good to rotate but look, we’ll go into next week and it’s going to be really hard to pick an 18-man squad next week because we’ve got to leave some really good players out.

“We’ve got an unbelievable changing room. I think from the outside people see the players we’ve got on paper and assume they must – we don’t have any egos in our changing room, everyone’s together, everyone’s for the club and they all play for me, the management team and I couldn’t be happier.

“We’ve got the best supporters’ in non-league and they come out and you can hear them.”

Sitting in fourteenth-place (bottom five) of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table with 10 points (three wins, one draw and two defeats), SE Dons have games in hand on all of their 17 rivals.

“There’s nothing we can do. We’ve done well in the cups and we have to use the squad properly.  In the League it’s all about putting a good run of games, go on a winning streak and see where we are but it’s hard to think about the league and everything at the moment, we’ve got so much going on, we’re just taking it week by week at the moment and we just want to keep making history.

“I’ve set my targets, which I want to keep to myself now but I think success would be another promotion and potentially more silverware, that’s it.”

Sutton Common Rovers: Oliver Davies, Cameron Lewis-Brown, Kwadwo Kyei (Paolo Stuart 75), Mweembe Chiabi (Edward McCrea 83), Oliver Meadows, Ben Cook, Luke Rippon (Liam Trevatt 53), Ruebuan Zamorano, James Anderson (Ben Edmunds 75), Isaac Kamin, Daghan Basarabiglu (Casey Yusuff-Phillips 63).

Goal: James Anderson 7 (penalty)

Booked: Kwadwo Kyei 24, Paolo Sturt 77, Isaac Kamin 88

SE Dons: George Kamurasi, Ryan Palmer, Patrick McKay, Ralfie Hand, Michael Kamara, Reece Barrett, Andre Coker (Femi Akinwande 61), Dominic Morgan-Griffiths, Joshua Bohui, Aaron Watson, Joedon Gugas-Cowin (Walter Figueira 68).
Subs: Harry Sargent, Siao Blackwood, Alex Teniola

Goals: Joshua Bohui 62, 72, 82

Booked: Aaron Watson 24, Patrick McKay 37

Attendance: 459
Referee: Mr Conor Griffin
Assistants: Mr Alfie Howden & Mr Jake Johnson

Match Duration:
First Half: 47:00
Second Half: 48:50