Football League Youth Alliance Cup

South East 2 Group Match

Tuesday 14th January 2025

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.03

Sutton United U18 3 Gillingham U18 1, attendance 28

38’ 1-0

49’ 2-0

77’ 2-1

79’ 3-1

@ Cheam Sports Club

Peaches Close

Cheam

SM2 7BJ

No Admission or Programme.

I only became aware of this game thanks to a re-tweet on Twitter just before 10 o’clock, confirming venue and kick off time and that spectators were welcome. There are two full size pitches here, both running widthways in front of the clubhouse, with today’s game played on the pitch on the far side of the cricket square. There’s a pair of dugouts on the near side, with an area taped off for spectators along the opposite touchline.

This was the last game of this group, with Sutton needing a win to progress, whilst a draw would be enough to see Gillingham go through. It was an excellent game from start to finish, with both sides going for the win. Sutton opened the scoring seven minutes before halftime, with a 25 yarder that the ‘keeper should really have saved. They nearly doubled their lead with the last effort of the first half, but a near post shot came back off the post. Four minutes into the second half they did make it 2-0 though, when a ball was cut back across the six yard box from the right and touched in at the far post. They thought they’d grabbed a third, but it was disallowed for a foul on the ‘keeper, before Gillingham pulled one back with thirteen minutes left, finishing into the top corner from the edge of the D. The comeback was short lived though, as it only took Sutton two minutes to restore their two goal lead, heading down into the bottom corner, with the ball just crossing the line before the ‘keeper could scoop it away.