An 88th minute goal by substitute Damien Powell settled this seven goal thriller at the Fieldings to preserve the Snipes' 100 per cent start to the season.
A goal down and having to play for an hour with 10 men following Luke Shiels’ red card, the Snipes displayed tremendous spirit to claim the victory, Pete Stubley notching a hat-trick.
Sutton enjoyed a spell of early pressure but the visitors defen
ce stood firm.
The pacy Mark Cooper was prominent on the left flank as the visitors’ neat approach play saw them apply a degree of pressure to the Snipes backline and on 15 minutes Gareth Sides fired over from a good position following Cooper’s cross.
Mark Frost then denied Joe Naylor with a tremendous save, turning the striker’s close range header round the post.
The visitors, though, were in front on 28 minutes when Dan Jarvis scored from the spot after the dangerous Cooper was brought down by Ash Wakelin.
Shiels was denied an equaliser by Thomas who turned his 33rd minute effort for a corner, but a minute later the Snipes were down to 10 men when Shiels was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Lee Atkinson.
The hosts looked up against it, but a superb finish from Stubley brought them level five minutes before the interval. Receiving the ball with his back to goal, the Snipes striker showed great skill to turn his marker and advanced into the area finishing with a stunning strike into the roof of the net past Thomas.
Frost then saved again from Naylor to maintain parity at the interval.
The Snipes’ 10 men started the second period in determined mood and within 10 minutes had taken a 3-1 lead.
On 46 minutes Stubley and Newell combined to set James Senior clear down the left edge of the area and, when his chip decieved Thomas, Stubley was on hand to stab home from eight yards.
Then with 55 minutes gone Danny O’Donnell’s corner to the back post was headed back across goal by Hadley for Stubley to complete his hat-trick.
Chances were created at both ends before Jarvis fired home from 10 yards on 67 minutes after James Handley’s flick on from a corner to put Main back in the game.
There then followed 10 minutes of controvesy with referee Mr Guise the centre of attention.
The full article contains 404 words and appears in Ashfield Chad newspaper.
