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U's take three big steps towards Advertiser Cup

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Friday, July 29, 2011
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Sutton Advertiser

TWO Craig Watkins strikes set Sutton United on their way to a first-leg lead in the Sutton Advertiser Cup on Saturday.

A 3-0 lead, with the reverse game at Colston Avenue on August 6, reflected not only the hosts' dominance but their cohesion, given that plenty of them played together last season and the few newcomers are learning existing systems.

By comparison, Carshalton have many new faces and are finding their way.

Watkins, for example, fitted in easily enough up front on the right, learning where forward Craig Dundas and others would play the ball, while making the resulting free-flowing play seem effortless.

While the Robins battled well enough, Sutton went ahead on five minutes when Anthony Riviere, one of Sutton's new boys, volleyed home from just outside the area.

At the other end Paul Vines, Carshalton's recruit from Kingstonian, could not quite connect with a cross from trialist right-back Briand Pierrick, who was pulled off after half an hour.

Captain David Ray, one left from last season, nearly headed Carshalton level and Dean McDonald, in from Farnborough, was roaming left and right, and coming deep to seek the ball.

Sutton scored a second on 24 minutes, Watkins battling with replacement keeper Scott Chalmers-Stevens before smashing the ball home. Yes, replacement keeper. The No. 13 shirt proved unlucky for Liam Stone, whose back was injured when trying to stop the first goal.

Francis Quarm was warned by referee Craig Hicks after crunching into Simon Downer on the half hour.

Joel Legister, another Robins stalwart, did get past Scriven but was sent too wide and the opening was finished by Dean Lodge blasting over the bar.

Fola Orilonish remains the exciting prospect of the end of Sutton's last season, attacking down the left and caught the eye before Watkins nabbed his second on the hour, slotting past the keeper.

Substitutes abounded, Scriven among them as a precaution after a bash on the thumb.

Carshalton might not have created too many chances, but they had moments of resolve at the back. Francis Quarm denied Watkins a hat-trick, tackling the former Met Police forward who was put in by Dundas.

One of Carshalton's youngsters, who had impressed at the end of last season, went close to scoring. Sonny Ayres headed over Lodge's cross from the right.

Near the end, Anthony Joseph, who played 50-odd times for Sutton, was twice denied by Wayne Shaw, before Chalmers-Stevens made a flying save from Riviere.

Sutton's incomings seem to have improved them as they make much headway as they hurtle towards the Blue Square Bet South. Carshalton need to gel.

Sutton: Scriven (Shaw 63), Davis (McKimm 63), Jenkins (Downer 16), Kavanagh, El-Salahi (McCrae 51), Page (Bray 63), Riviere, Taggart, Dundas, Watkins, Orilonishe.

Carshalton: Stone (Chalmers-Stevens 15), Pierrick (Killock 30), Crook, Ray, Roberts, Lodge (Bryan 76), Quarm, Vines (Ayres 50), McDonald (A Joseph 55), Legister.

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