Keating’s early goal sent the Yellow Army into rapture and United didn’t look back, keeping Sutton at arm’s length in a professional away performance.
Defender Sean McGinty took the captain’s armband in the absence of Josh Gowling. New boy Alex Davey came straight into the starting eleven after signing on loan today. Damon Lathrope and Ruairi Keating were included in the starting eleven.
United’s last three points came by beating Ebbsfleet United in game where United needed just a single goal to earn all three points. It was a game where United were always within touching distance of their opponents. They condensed the pitch, and worked hard to stifle everything that was thrown at them. Tonight was near enough a carbon copy.
No-one tries harder than striker Ruairi Keating, and he showed his quality too in the 10th minute, heading in after a flick on from Jamie Reid. The striker has been desperate to end his drought in front of goal – he enjoyed breaking it! He ran to the Yellow Army to celebrate and things were looking up for United who capitalized on a good start to the game.
Having taken the lead, United were happy to see what came at them, while still looking for opportunities to break. The margins of error were small. Quite a few moments could have gone United’s way. The signs were good heading into the half-time break despite some late pressure from Sutton.
Sutton’s ‘keeper Jamie Butler was a busy man in the second half. The first of United’s chances was an ambitious one. Luke Young tried his luck from far out, but his half-volley had the element of surprise and nearly caught Butler unaware.
Vincent Dorel didn’t have a serious save to make. He did have to be aware in the 54th minute when a corner was take by the wind and was worryingly heading for the far corner. He caught a bit of the woodwork making the save, but apart from the need to stay alert, that was the hardest it got for him.
Josh McQuoid nearly made it 2-0 in the 64th minute, when his effort from a Luke Young corner had Butler scrambling to keep the ball out to his right.
Sutton’s most dangerous period of the game came in the 64th minute. They poured forward and United had to show resilience and acute concentration as their box seem flooded by amber shirts. United blocked and harried their way out of trouble.
United could have taken advantage a couple of times as Sutton took risks in search of an equalizer. A few times, a calmer head could have broken Sutton’s back line but they saw out four minutes of added on time to clinch a much needed three points.
A special word for new loan signing Alex Davey who played magnificently despite such little time with his teammates.
We can’t be sure of the exact number of fans that came out to support the lads, but thank you to those that did!
We look to Saturday now, and the visit of Leyton Orient to Plainmoor (kick-off 3pm).
Come and support the lads!
Sutton United: 25 Jamie Butler, 3 Aswad Thomas [16 Bailey 64′], 5 Louis John, 6 Jamie Collins (c), 8 Kenny Davis, 9 Ross Lafayette, 11 Kieron Cadogan, 14 Craig Dundas, 23 Josh Taylor [32 Ross Stearn 74′], 27 Simon Downer, 30 Tom Bolarinwa (Substitutes Not Used): Spence, Walton
Booked: Cadogan
Torquay United: 30 Vincent Dorel (GK), 2 Michee Efete, 3 Liam Davis, 4 Damon Lathrope, 5 Sean McGinty, 8 Luke Young, 10 Ruairi Keating, 13 Josh McQuoid [23 Ryan Higgins 68′], 16 Jazzi Barnum-Bobb, 19 Jamie Reid [9 Jon-Paul Pittman 90′], 21 Alex Davey (Substitutes Not Used) 1 Ryan Clark (GK), 27 Jennison Myrie-Williams
Booked: Barnum-Bobb, McQuoid, Reid
Referee: Savvas Yianni
Attendance: 1,970 (unsegregated)