Royals' goal blitz fires play-off charge

Zamaretto Southern Midlands

Arlesey 1

Sutton Coldfield Town 4

SUTTON made a mockery of the best defensive record in the league as they smashed four goals past stunned Arlesey.

With Arlesey lying just below them in the league with two games in hand, it was an important game in the Royals' play-off hunt.

Arlesey began the game at a cracking pace and for the first 15 minutes Sutton were chasing shadows and struggling to stay in the game.

Arlesey should have gone ahead when Sutton keeper Steve Jackson came racing out to intercept a long through-ball but did not get there and Nathan Frater shot into the side-netting.

Sutton rode the storm and Sam Wilson scored against the run of play from a corner, firing home from 20 yards following a half clearance.

Craig Marshall sent a fierce shot just wide before Sutton doubled their lead when a free-kick was awarded deep out on the right hand side and Craig Milligan hit an unstoppable shot into the top corner of the net.

The second half began with a penalty when Jamille Matt was hauled down in the area, but Milligan blasted it straight at the keeper.

It was not to prove too costly a miss. Within minutes, a corner from the left was neatly headed down to Jake Murrall, who had time to turn and fire home a left-footed shot.

Arlesey made three substitutions and launched an onslaught on Sutton that ended when Zema Abbey pulled a goal back with a tap-in after Jackson blocked his first shot.

Only a desperate goal-line clearance stopped the deficit being reduced further but Marshall sealed victory on the stroke of full-time when he fired in a free-kick from just outside the box.