Hi there folks, Sutton fan here who was at Saturday’s game.
First of all can I congratulate you on winning the RPL for 2009-20010 and tell you to stop beating yourselves up about losing 2 on the spin.
Some comments on here have been quite good, in that they have given Sutton some credit for getting the 3 points. A lot though have chastised us for coming to do a job on Dartford and for bully boy tactics. Those people should take off their rose tinted specs and smell the coffee. In my view Dartford had enough big men to combat any physical threat. On the day Sutton were better but over the season Dartford will stand triumphant. I have watched the video of the game several times and nowhere does it show Sutton getting more in the ref’s face than Dartford – even stevens methinks in a tempestuous game between the two form teams (Borehamwood aside) at this moment. The Sutton left back mis-timed a tackle and was rightly booked early on but as soon as Norwood was floored (maybe accidently) the tone was set and he was then singled out as a diver and cheat. Both Pouton and Norwood were subsequently fouled and rightly so the aggressor was spoken to by the ref (who by this time was getting a bit flustered but at least did talk to both captains).
It is my belief that no one side took advantage of the other in terms of fouls, cheating, diving etc.
I cannot remember many other bad fouls until midway through the second half when Norwood was hacked down and your guy stayed on the pitch. That was the worst in a feisty encounter. Why would Sutton come to your manor and let you play? You are top of the league but our midfield in the first half ran the game and Pouton coming off early swung the game to you. Our centre forward had been sick all day so only lasted an hour and with these two going off with still 30 minutes to play it gave Dartford an incentive to take the game to Sutton, which they did but managed to fluff their lines and miss a couple of sitters. Although Norwood did miss a one on one with the keeper and Quarm should have scored in the first ten minutes. So on balance we created more chances than Dartford and took two. All in all it was a proper game of football played at a good ground with a true playing surface. Just thank your lucky stars you don’t have to play at GGL every other week.
What was wrong with your back four on Saturday as they all wanted to moan and on the day couldn’t trap a bag of cement all afternoon? Your midfield definitely misses a general as you have the goal power especially now that Rook has flown from Tonbridge but nobody could pull the strings.
I am envious of your new ground (although I did come last season too) but wtf is that statue doing there? Also why are there only 4 rows of seats in the stand and if you are in the 2nd row, as I was, you do not see the corner flag on the furthest from you on that side as it is obscured by the dugouts etc. Stands should be elevated. The bar and stewards all over the complex were superb on the day and I thought the match was policed very well.
I have a blue badge, as I am partly disabled, and was pleased to hear there were parking places allocated. However why are they not situated right outside the complex down the side where others park (once the security rail is removed) ? It is quite a walk when you cannot walk far.
The only other glitch on coming to your ground is getting away as everyone turns right and then gets held up at the t/l’s. Is there any plan to carry on that road to the left which comes to a grinding halt after a mile or so?
Anyway enjoy the rest of your season and enjoy the BSS next season. Your opponents will welcome you as there are not too many clubs that get over 1000 to home games. We hope to be back at that level sometime soon and, if we get our FA Community Status and get development permission from the London Borough of Sutton, with better facilities. However with all the teams, non-league and professional, within a 10 mile radius of us we can only dream of your crowd sizes. Onwards and upwards. We hope to beat Hastings on Saturday and I am sure you will win away at Tonbridge Angels. Now that is a team that has problems on and off the pitch – Tommy Warrilow has them well trained so don’t expect a non-physical game and any respect for the officials or visiting fans. The TA “army” were an obscene bunch for 90 minutes when we went there at the end of last year. Although I found the majority of their fans ok, also their beleaguered committee. I suspect you will have a right Kent battle on the 13th. ENJOY.
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Topic: Dartford v Sutton - Saturday 6th Feb 2010 (Read 9129 times)