What a cup game for the neutrals and again shows you why this competition is special.

Dartford came into this game on a nine game winning streak including 3 qualifying games to get here while Sutton enjoying their season so far in the National League but have only won once away so far.

The game started with Sutton scoring the fastest goal off the day in the FA Cup when the ball down the right side was crossed low to the near post by Maxime Biamou for Craig Eastmond to slot in.  The Dartford supporters went quiet but in the 2^nd minute Andy Pugh o9n the edge of the area saw his shot saved at the second attempt by Ross Worner then in the 5^th they equalised when Elliott Bradbrook picked a loose ball & from 25 yards he side footed the ball home.

Four minutes later it was nearly two for Dartford as Luke Wanadio crossed low into the six yard box for Duane Ofari-Acheampong but he fell over but managed to kick the ball sideways where Danny Harris appeared from nowhere but shot wide when it seemed the goal was there for the taking.

In the 15^th minute Sutton regained their lead when a long throw into the area was half cleared & ended up with Roarie Deacon who from 18 yards shot home. Two minutes later & it was even Stevens when Wanadio saw his cross hit Eastmond’s hand & a penalty was given probably a bit harsh but Dartford were not complaining, up stepped Bradbrook who shot into the bottom right hand corner.

Six minutes later Deacon broke through the Dartford defence & squared it for Biamou who from 12 yards shot home.  In the 42^nd minute it was nearly level again in this crazy match when Ryan Hayes corner was tipped onto the bar by Worner & from the resulting corner Pugh saw his flicked header saved by Worner.

The second half started a bit slower than the first but the result could have turned in sixty seconds when in the 51^st minute Deacon from 18 yards saw his shot deflect into the path of Biamou & from 6 yards his shot was superbly saved by Deren Ibrahim & then in the next minute Hayes on the right crossed to the back post for Wanadio whose header came back of the post back to Ofari-Acheampong who from 6 yards smashed in.

Six minutes later Sutton again took the lead when Deacon cutting in from the right saw his shot from 20 yards parried away by Ibrahim but straight to Ross Stern who smashed it in from 3 yards. Dartford had to try again to get back into this game & in the 69^th minute a Hayes free kick into the area found Bradbrook & his spectacular overhead kick from 10 yards was saved at the second attempt.

In the 70^th minute Sutton finally put the tie to bed when Dan Fitchett went down the right passed inside for Deacon who shot home from 20 yards. Six minutes later it could have been worse as Ryan Burge running into the area saw his shot pushed around the post by Ibrahim then in the 3^rd minute off added on time Stearn scored the goal of the game when he received the ball just inside the area on the left & he curled his shot into the top right hand corner.

The final whistle went & Sutton deservedly go through but Dartford did give them a scare.

 

DARTFORD:

1. IBRAHIM 2. D.HARRIS  3. T.WYNTER (79)  4. T.BONNER   5. T.GARDINER  6. A.BROWN  7. R.HAYES 8. E.BRADBROOK 9. D.AFORI-ACHEAMPONG (83)  10. A.PUGH  11. L.WANADIO (83)

SUBS USED:  12. K.WOOD (79)  15. L.NOBLE (83)  16. E.BROWN (83)

SUBS NOT USED:  14. R.VINT  17. T.COXALL  18. L.ROSENFIELD  19. J.UFUAH

BOOKINGS:  4. T.WYNTER (29)  4. T.BONNOR (36)  9. D.AFORI-ACHEAMPONG (55)

 

SUTTON UNITED:

1.R.WORNER  2. K.AMANKWAAH  6. J.COLLINS  10. D.FITCHETT (82)  11. R.STEARN  15. C.EASTMOND  16. N.BAILEY 18. G.McLENNON (58) 21. R.DEACON 26. M.BIAMOU (73)  27. S.DOWNER

SUBS USED:  17. D.SPENCE (58)  23. R.BURGE (73)  19. C.DICKSON (82)

SUBS NOT USED:  5. L.JOHN  7. B.HUSON-ODOI  25. J.SMITH  26. A.GOGIC

BOOKINGS:  6. J.COLLINS (17)  18. G.McLENNON (47)  15. C.EASTMOND (55)

 

REFEREE: Mr S.ALLISON

ASSISTANTS:  Mr C.WALCHESTER  &  Mr W.CARTMEL

4^TH OFFICIAL:  Mr J.MILES

ATTENDANCE: 1,689