Away Days Blog
U’s turned over by Mighty Moors
Sutton Utd away was always going to be a tough test, but it was made harder when midfield workhorse Rob Ramshaw hobbled off 10 minutes into Moors’ home defeat to Marine on Tuesday night and was confirmed as a non-starter for the FA Trophy last 8 tie.
Heading into the game Suttons form was questionable with only one win in five, including losses away to Gateshead and at home to Hartlepool, that said with a league position that will see them neither go up nor down you could argue this was a top priority for the South Londoners known as the U’s.
Sutton are a team with a rich history having in the past reached the 5th Round of the FA Cup, been finalists in both the EFL Trophy & the FA Trophy and as recent as 2020/2021 National League Champions given them a brief spell in the Football League Proper as they like to call it.
Rich history or not, if you ask anyone outside of the area what they know about Sutton Utd the conversation will always lead to that aforementioned 5th Round FA Cup tie at home to Arsenal and not because of the achievement itself or the fact they only lost 0-2 to a Premier League giant but because they became embroiled in betting scandal after Goal Keeper Coach Wayne Shaw was seen eating a pie live on television just as the hosts were making a triple substitution. After the initial comedy wore off, the incident was revealed to be a publicity stunt for a betting company who offered odds on Shaw eating a pie during the match. Both the Football Association and the Government’s Gambling Commission launched investigations into the matter. A statement released later confirmed that Shaw had accepted the club’s request for him to resign.
Who ate all the Pies - Former Sutton Goalkeeper Coach Wayne Shaw, that’s who!
Taylor double has Moors dreaming of Wembley.
On to the here and now and although for the travelling support the fixture will be forever remembered as an “I was there” game, we nearly never got to witness the historic win at all as stewards shut down the turnstiles when an altercation erupted outside the away supporter’s entrance to the ground, a situation that could have been so much worse if not for the peace-making efforts of certain individuals and the sensible approach carried out by the on duty Police Officers.
Over 150 Spennymoor Supporter made the trip south with many opting for a gruelling 6 hour coach journey made worth it after the Moors prevailed as comfortable 0-2 winners rewarded with an FA Trophy semi-final slot not witnessed since the late 1970’s when a then United team managed by club legend Kenny Banks went down 2-0 to Leatherhead, ironically also from Surrey.
The 90 minutes play though unremarkable overall, offered plenty of enjoyable moments. the opening goal a thing of beauty with Taylor cushioning a long high ball with his right foot before volleying home with his left on 16 minutes. A further opportunity from the lively Cory McKeown was saved and a goal mouth scramble could have, if converted, made the tie a little less nerve wracking for the Moors as Sutton wrestled control of the play and looked the more likely as the game moved into the final quarter. A late transition saw McKeown release Staunton down the left who’s hopeful centre, was met by Taylor who slipped between a confused looking goalkeeper and defender to prod home, cue wild “tops off” celebrations and a confirmed semi-final slot.
Shout out to Cheam Social Club who hosted and catered for the away supporters 👊🏻
Final Score
Sutton Utd 0
Spennymoor Town 2
⚽️⚽️ Taylor
Player of the Match
Glen Taylor
Attendance
1578 with 161 Away Fans
Distance
580 Mile Round Trip
Moors on a playoff push, no Kidding.
Spennymoor Town headed to Worcestershire on the back of some fine displays, history however, is a less than impressive read as Moors had failed to win on any of their previous visits to the Aggborough Stadium, since they first locked horns in the National League North back in 2017.
Harriers now managed by South Shields local Phil Brown who, had taken Hull to the Premier League no less, were back on home soil after a mixed bag of results on the road, drawing with title chasing Chester and beating Alfreton before falling to Marine after going down to 10 men in the first half.
Former Premier League Manager Phil Brown is now in charge at Kidderminster
No longer in the big time.
No strangers to big name managerial appointments Kiddy had, at the turn of the century, convinced Liverpool Legend Jan Molby to sign as player manager who, after persuading former Liverpool team mate Mike Marsh to join him, took them into the Football League where they stayed for 5 years.
It’s safe to say Harriers still behave like a Football league Club despite their fall down the pyramid. Away fans are segregated, too heavily stewarded with no alcohol allowed in view of the pitch.
On the field Moors went at their hosts from the off and were 1-0 to the good when a Matty Dolan free kick may or may not have glanced off of Olly Dyson’s head on its way to goal, a lead they took with them to the interval after a calm and controlled 45 minutes play.
Six minutes after the restart Moors were awarded a penalty after McKeown may or may not have been upended when ghosting between 2 opposition defenders after a break down the left. Glen Taylor, of course, finished off the resulting spot kick.
The visitors remained in control, dealing with any threat easily, Micheal Ledger was particularly impressive after returning to the starting eleven. He couldn’t stop Harriers pulling a goal back however after a speculative, heavily deflected, effort found its way beyond a stranded Brad James on 80 minutes setting up a nervous last 10.
Fear not as on 89 minutes, and only 60 seconds after Ramshaw had wasted a golden opportunity to secure the points, Taylor easily latched on to a stray pass before chipping nonchalantly past the on rushing goalkeeper.
Final Score
Kidderminster Harriers 1
⚽️ Hemmings
Spennymoor Town 3
⚽️ Dyson
⚽️⚽️ Taylor
Player of the Match
Michael Ledger
Attendance
2,234 with 34 Away Fans
Distance
418 Mile Round Trip
Taylor Converting Penalty
Moors Rear Guard
Manager & Players thanking Away Supporters
