Fazeley Charity Cup

Semi-Final

Tuesday 31st January 2023

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.44

Sutton United 3 Coton Green 2, attendance 252

11’ 1-0

24’ 1-1

77’ 2-1

85’ 3-1

88’ 3-2

@ Coleshill Road Stadium

Coleshill Road

Sutton Coldfield

B75 7BA

No Admission

£1.50 Programme 16 pages.

Having been thwarted by a gridlocked M25 and surrounding areas on Boxing Day, it was a case of second time lucky in making it here tonight. Sutton United have moved into their new 3G facility this season. Although it has just the standard kit stand at present, it is unlike most of these new cage venues, as you can actually access all four sides to watch the game!

They only came up from Division 3 of the Midland League at the start of this season, but look like their stay at this level will be a brief one, as they currently sit top of the table, ten points clear of second placed Cadbury Athletic, albeit having played two more games. They’ve managed 14 wins and 3 draws from their opening nineteen matches, scoring 76 goals in the process. Coton Green would be a tougher test though, as they currently sit seventh in the division above, having only lost seven of their twenty six league matches so far.

It was a decent game, as you’d expect from a semi-final. At this level, clubs are still interested in reaching cup finals, unlike those higher up the food chain. It only took Sutton eleven minutes to go in front, when a 25 yarder dipped over the ‘keeper into the far corner. They also hit the post and saw another effort go narrowly wide, before Coton Green levelled the score after twenty four minutes, when a header from a corner was deflected past the ‘keeper. Sutton made it 2-1 with thirteen minutes left, heading in a left wing cross at the near post. They looked to have made it safe, when an angled shot into the far corner made it 3-1 as we entered the last five minutes, but Coton Green made for a nervous finish for the hosts when they headed in to make it 3-2 and pushed hard in stoppage time for an equaliser, but despite a sustained period of pressure, couldn’t quite pull it off.