Sutton provide New Year cheer by doing the double over resurgent Dons
Sutton United (1) 2 Randall 13, Bugiel 69
AFC Wimbledon (1) 1 Davison 40
Sutton United brought an end to the unbeaten run of near-neighbours AFC Wimbledon with a 2-1 win at Gander Green Lane on New Years’ Day.
Goals from Will Randall and Omar Bugiel helped Sutton to a deserved victory as they leapfrogged their visitors in the League Two table and extended their own fine run of form to four home wins on the trot.
Dons’ top-scorer Josh Davison equalised in the first half for Johnnie Jackson’s men, but they were sorely lacking in attacking threat without the talents of Ayoub Assal, as the forward continues to be the subject of transfer interest.
The home side showed few signs of a New Years’ Eve hangover early on, applying plenty of pressure on the Wimbledon goal from the first whistle.
After Rob Milsom had seen his cross tipped on to the bar by Nick Tzanev, the Dons stopper had to be at his best to deny Sutton skipper Craig Eastmond at the end of a flowing attacking move.
The breakthrough arrived not long after though, as after Wimbledon failed to clear their lines, Randall struck expertly from the edge of the box to find the back of Tzanev’s net via the far post.
Even though it was Jackson’s side that came into this one on a 10-match unbeaten streak having last lost in the league against Sutton in October, it was Matt Gray’s men who were inspired by the opportunity to take their rival’s place in the top half of League Two.
Enthusiasm aplenty, the hosts missed two glorious opportunities to extend their lead before the break.
First, Randall slid an effort wide of the upright that assisted his goal from all of 10 yards, and then Omar Bugiel failed to flick an effort goalward as he tried to reach an Enzio Boldewijn cross.
They came to regret their profligacy in front of goal five minutes before the interval as Davison poked home Wimbledon’s first genuine chance of the afternoon after Sutton failed to adequately clear a free-kick.
With Assal missing, Wimbledon lacked creativity throughout. His direct replacement, Brentford loanee Nathan Young-Coombes, was substituted at half-time after making an ineffective first start since September following a knee injury.
His replacement Lee Brown did little to alter the general direction of traffic, as Tzanev was forced to make a fine save from Randall on the hour mark and Joe Kizzi headed a Milsom free-kick wide of the target less than a minute later.
Tzanev was involved in the decisive goal as well, as after he had done well to keep out an Alistair Smith effort from distance, he was powerless to keep out Bugiel on the rebound.
The eruption around Gander Green Lane suggested few of the sell-out crowd were feeling worse for wear on the first afternoon of 2023, and even some late Wimbledon pressure did little to dampen the atmosphere.
Jack Rose made his first save to keep out a Kyle Hudlin header on 72 minutes, but it was in fact Sutton who had the best chance in the dying minutes as substitute Harry Beautyman saw a shot cleared off the line by Paul Kalambayi.
Wimbledon’s improvement since their last defeat to Sutton is undeniable, yet they may soon be moving backwards if Assal’s absence becomes a permanent one.
For Sutton and Gray, business as usual will surely secure another season of league football next term. Some January additions could mean they are in another play-off hunt come Spring.
Sutton United: (4-4-2) Rose – Kizzi, Goodliffe (Beautyman 78), John, Milsom – Boldewijn, Eastmond, Smith, Randall – Bugiel (Neufville 71), Wilson (Kouassi 71). Subs not used: Ward, Dundas, Fadahunsi, Gambin.
AFC Wimbledon: (4-4-2) Tzanev – Biler, Kalambayi, Towler, Currie (Fisher 89) – Chislett, Pell, Woodyard, Young-Coombes (Brown 45) – Hudlin, Davison. Subs not used: Broome, Gunter, Marsh, Pearce, Bendle.
