Snipes’ run halted by strugglers Aylestone

A first half strike from Heenan gave Aylestone the victory they deserved as Sutton put in their worst performance of the season.

The Snipes made a number of changes from their last league outing at Radford, but the team that they put out should still have had enough to beat struggling Aylestone.

However, right from the whistle the visitors were up for the game and never gave Sutton a chance to settle.

The first chance fell to Mitchel,l but he blasted the ball over as Sutton struggled to find their passing rhythm, with the visitors battling for every ball.

Their first chance came after a defensive lapse, but Roberts was unable to convert.

Sutton were really struggling to get hold of the ball as Gilliatt and Fields were being closed down by the Aylestone midfield three with Harris snapping at every challenge.

Sutton rode their luck after 30 minutes when Heenan was played in by Nugent with only West to beat. As the striker rounded the keeper, he looked as if he was clipped by West, but the honest frontman kept on his feet and, as he stumbled to the ball, it gave Sweeney time to retreat to the goal and make the goal line clearance.

The visitors’ manager appealed for the penalty, but the referee only pointed to the corner flag.

Aylestone didn’t have to wait long to make their pressure pay after some more slack defending let the ball fall to Heenan and the striker wrong-footed West to roll the ball into the bottom corner. Sutton had a chance to equalise nearly straight away as Hollingsworth put in Owens with only the keeper to beat, but the striker got his attempted lob all wrong and could only pass the ball into Brooks’ hand.

The referee blew the whistle as Aylestone went into the interval 1-0 up, but the Snipes must still have fancied their chances kicking down the slope in the second half.

Sutton kicked off and were having most of the possession, but Brooks’ goal remained unchallenged. The front three of Chambers, Mitchell and Owens couldn’t get going and were being marshalled well by the visitors’ defence.

The Snipes did get to the by-line on numerous occasions, but Fields, Chambers and Owens were unable to come up with a telling cross.

As much as Sutton huffed and puffed they were just not creating any chances, so Gilliatt, Doolan and Atkins were replaced by Rhodes, Purseglove and Tittley to try to inject a bit of urgency.

Brooks finally had a save to make after 70 minutes as he comfortably tipped over Fields’ long range effort.

A succession of corners then followed, but some last gasp defending and bodies being thrown on the line kept the Snipes out, the final chance falling to Owens but a terrific block was again made.

The referee blew the final whistle as a jubilant Aylestone celebrated like they had just won the league.

It was a disappointing defeat for Sutton, but they won’t have long to feel sorry for themselves as they travel to EvoStick League side Carlton tomorrow (Wednesday) in the Nottinghamshire FA Senior Cup and are then hosts to top of the league Thurnby Nirvana on Saturday, who beat the Snipes 4-1 earlier in the season.

Sutton will need to react in a positive manner if they are to get anything out of these next two games.

SNIPES: West, M. Hewitt, Doolan, Sweeney, Hollingsworth, Fields, Atkins, Chambers, Mitchell, Owens, Gilliat. Subs: Rhodes, Pickering, Charlesworth, Purseglove, Tittley.