Forest Green Rovers could only come away with a draw in an action-packed six-goal thriller at Gander Green Lane. Despite leading for most of the match, ten-man Rovers suffered at the death when former Rovers striker Temi Babalola headed home at the back post to steal a point for the hosts.
Rovers took the lead in the opening ten minutes thanks to Jayden Clarke's follow-up finish from the edge of the D.
Half-time substitute Oli Ewing scored within three minutes of coming on after some good pressing forced an error from Will Nightingale.
Rovers were reduced to ten men only moments later after Freddie Sass received a second yellow card.
The hosts drew a goal back through Brandon Njoku, before Kyle McAllister responded instantly with another goal for FGR.
A stunning strike from Sutton’s Charlie Carter gave the U's hope going into the final moments of the game, and it was former Rovers striker Temi Babalola who grabbed a point for the hosts with a header at the back post.
First Half:
The opening stages were relatively quiet on a sunny Saturday in South London, with little hint of what was to come. Former Rovers midfielder Emmanuel Osadebe tested Ethan Ross from range before in-form Rovers player Jayden Clarke opened the scoring. A lovely weighted ball from McAllister fed through to wideman Sean Etaluku, whose shot was well saved by Manchester City loanee Spike Brits, only for the save to rebound to the follow-up run of Clarke, who guided the ball perfectly into the net.
Robbie Savage's men saw plenty of the ball in the opening 25 minutes. Returning striker Jose Marquez thought he had a good opportunity to open his Rovers account, only to be well tackled by the experienced Nightingale after James Berry cut back across goal. The young striker saw another chance go begging, as McAllister set up a lovely opportunity, only for Marquez to mistime his run.
Rovers' number one, Ross, created a fantastic counter-attack in the 35th minute following a Sutton corner; the ball fell beautifully for Sean Etaluku, and the winger created a good shooting opportunity inside the Sutton half, but Brits was equal to the effort. Sutton then grew into the final quarter of the half with a number of half-chances. Sutton captain Jake Taylor had an effort that whistled past Ethan Ross's near post.
Half-time: Sutton 0-1 Forest Green Rovers
Second Half:
It was the perfect start to the second half for Robbie Savage's side; half-time substitute Oli Ewing showed excellent pressing to force Nightingale into an error in his own half. The midfielder ran through, with three Sutton defenders bearing down on him, to nudge the ball past the rushing Brits and put Rovers two goals to the good. It was bad luck for Ewing, though, as the midfielder was forced off only moments later after picking up an injury in the build-up to his goal.
It would then turn into a more challenging afternoon for the Gloucestershire side. Left-back Freddie Sass was shown his marching orders after a second bookable offence only four minutes later. A shirt pull on Sutton forward David Ogbonna was enough to reduce Rovers to ten. The tide began to change with Rovers a man down, as Sutton manager Chris Agutter shuffled his pack. Kelvin Abrefa had to stay alert to clear a dangerous Sutton cross from the right.
The hosts pulled one back in the 72nd minute, substitute Brandon Njoku poking past Ross after the Rovers keeper spilt Charlie Carter's effort through a sea of bodies. It was the ten men of Rovers who struck back instantly, though, as a stunning ball from Jayden Clarke set up McAllister perfectly for a first-time finish past Brits, with Rovers now looking set for all three points.
However, a stunning volley from Sutton Charlie Carter gave the home fans hope; the forward used excellent technique to bring the ball down on his chest and volley it into the top corner of Ethan Ross's goal. Temi Babalola came back to bite Rovers at the end of the game, heading home at the back post to grab a point for the hosts despite a fairly quiet game up to that point.
Rovers do have Ethan Ross to thank for a fine stop in the final 30 seconds of the game. Brandon Njoku attempted to sweep the ball past Ross from point-blank range, only for the Rovers keeper to get down heroically and deny the hosts all three points.
Robbie Savage will feel that two points have been dropped this afternoon, considering the position they were in. However, it's a quick turnaround for Rovers as they prepare for the visit of Wealdstone in the Enterprise National League on Tuesday 29th September.
Full-time: Sutton United 3-3 Forest Green Rovers
Line-ups:
Sutton United: Brits, Urpens (Nzuzi 65’), Nightingale, Byron (Topallaj 46’), Brookes, Knight, Taylor © (Njoku 71’), Carter, Babalola, Ogbonna (Folarin 83’), Osadebe.
Subs not used: Haigh, Donkor, Bell.
Forest Green Rovers: Ross, Sass (Sent off 52’), Mabete, Abrefa, Campbell, Clarke, Berry (Ewing 46’ (Pemberton 56’), Etaluku (Ifeanyi 71’), McAllister ©, Marquez (Kircough 61’).
Subs not used: McNicholas, Haughton, Fearon.
Attendance: Today's matchday attendance: 2139 (190 away)
