The End of History and the first Tuesday night game under the lights at Sutton United.
These past few games for Sutton United have been enveloped in history. First game, oldest player debut and just when I thought tonight would be a routine run of the mill game for Sutton history struck but not very loudly. The new flood lights made there English Football League debut and boy did they shine. Yes, this was Sutton’s first midweek game on a Tuesday night in the English Football League. Tis pity it wasn’t played on Friday night as I could have borrowed the title of the great American sports book called ‘Friday Night Lights: A Town, a Team, and a Dream’.
Over the next five years, success for Sutton United would be to become part of the EFL league two furniture. But first we need to survive this season, reach fifty points and stay up. The long slog has begun and next up is a Saturday trip to Exeter. I am not sure if their is anything historical about that particular game for Sutton United but I’m sure someone will come up with something. After a flurry of away games my wings are clipped so no Exeter for me.
Tonight it was as if the new grass pitch was being tested. Rain, sheets of the stuff coming down on fans and players alike but my thoughts were with the pitch. How would it fare under such a torrential downpour. Would those without shelter find a port in the storm.
As for the game, rain didn’t stop play. The first half while hardly stellar stuff was better than Saturdays first half against Stevenage which was like watching paint dry with Bob Ross. Tonight’s first half was better not wildly better but Sutton had their fair share of possession and got a deserved goal with Goodliffe clinically tucking the ball in the Hartlepool net. The first half was also marked by a good goalkeeping performance from Dean Bouzanis who like some sort of fish with a flipper dramatically saved with his feet.
Half time came with no chance of escape as under EFL rules you can go out but you can’t get back in. Nor can you clap the players off then dash down the tunnel for a change of scene in the bar. There are much worse football ground hardships to endure than not going to the bar at half time. Or are there? The second half got underway and was a much better with both teams showing real intent with Hartlepool creating chances, again and again Bouzanis is up to the job. Reassurance comes from the bench with Buigel replacing Bennett. We need to see this game out, try finish it one nil to the Sutton. This season its unlikely but not impossible for us to dish out four, five or even six nil victories against teams. We’ll have to sweat for those one nil or two one victories. We enter the tunnel of ten minutes to go were Sutton are capable of collapse. Then three minutes added time, Hartlepool whose fans have come so far see their team piling on the pressure. The final whistle goes, one nil to Sutton. It was George Grahams Arsenal that were known for their one nil victories. If we can partially emulate the ability to get over the line with a good share of one nil victories, we can I think finish mid table this season. Here’s to a slew of nerve wracking end of games.
