The Fleet turn to Isuzu FA Trophy action this Saturday and it’s back to Sutton United for the second time this season after the earlier National League meeting between the clubs at Gander Green Lane.
Form guide
Sutton have won their previous three league fixtures over Maidenhead United, Solihull Moors and AFC Fylde whilst keeping clean sheets on all occasions. In midweek, in the Fleet’s National League Cup group, they added another clean sheet with a 3-0 win over Tottenham’s U21s.
Top goalscorer for the U’s is 25-year-old former Braintree and York striker Will Davies who has six goals while Ashley Nadesan, who scored against the Fleet in September, is close behind on five.
Last time out
Harry Watling’s second match in charge for the Fleet saw his side fall behind to two first-half goals but quick goals from Dominic Poleon and a Franklin Domi rocket in the second-half clawed the scores level. It looked like the Fleet had secured a point but that late winner from Nadesan secured the goods for the hosts.
Trophy tales
This is the first ever meeting in the FA Trophy of these clubs, with the FA Cup having been the only previous competition other than the league where the Fleet and Sutton have gone head to head.
Sutton’s best performance saw them reach a Wembley final in 1981 where they lost to Bishop’s Stortford and they have made the semi-finals on three other occasions. Their fifth round appearance in 2020/21, where they lost to Woking, was their most recent FA Trophy run and this is their first time back in the competition since then, having been in the EFL for the past three seasons.
The Fleet have gone out at the first-game point for each of the past three seasons and it was 2014/15 the last time we reached the latter stages, making the quarter-finals then.
Sutton squad
Since we last played in September, Sutton have added former Arsenal defender Alex Kirk to their ranks. The 21-year-old helped Bromley to EFL play-offs promotion last season during a loan spell at Hayes Lane. Also from Bromley, fellow defender Besart Topalloj arrived on loan last month and he contributed 36 games to the Ravens’ promotion from the National League last season.
Ticket information:
Tickets can be purchased in advance here with turnstiles opening at 1:00pm on the day.
Sutton have provided the following information:
Away fans will be placed in the Curva Terrace – they should enter through turnstiles 5 and 6 which is by Gate B. Enter through the park off Collingwood Road. If you’re travelling from Sutton Station walk down Gander Green Lane, and enter the park to Gate B. The ticketing website will show the away fans section as the Curva Terrace.
• First-team ground admission prices are £10 for adults, £10 for concessions and £5 for juniors. Children aged 14 and under are £1. Disabled carers are admitted free.
• Tickets should be bought before entering the ground but a limited amount of tickets will be available for purchase at the away turnstiles on the day.
Parking
• Sutton do not offer general admission parking. On match days, the club car park in Gander Green Lane is for parking permit holders only. Away fans should park in Gibson Road, the local municipal car park. It takes no more than 15 minutes to walk from Gibson Road to the stadium.
