Sutton Common Rovers made it two wins in three days on Monday when they knocked holders Westfield out of the Premier Challenge Cup at the first hurdle, writes Gary Brigden.
The visitors, riding high at the top of the league, and unbeaten since their opening day of the season FA Cup defeat, started brightly and put SCR under some early pressure, however the SCR backline, well marshalled by skipper Aaron Bogle held firm, and gradually the Rovers started to get on top.
A low fizzed cross on 24 minutes just eluded the on-rushing Daryl Cooper-Smith, and at the other end, Ollie Ellaway was out sharply to deny Adam Watson.
SCR took the lead on the 29 minutes when a quick throw was flicked into the path of Matt Auletta, he beat Westfield skipper Shaun Elliott and saw his low cross turned home by Cooper-Smith.
SCR then weathered a huge spell of Westfield pressure, with the visitors forcing seven corners on the spin, but the home defence stood firm.
Westfield should have levelled five minutes into the second half, but a corner from the right fizzed across the face of goal, with nobody able to apply the finishing touch, shortly after Ellaway did very well to save a low Watson effort.
SCR capitalised on the let offs ten minutes later, when James Taylor headed an Aaron Bogle free kick into the path of Matt Ferdinando who looped the ball beyond Sheikh Ceesay for 2-0.
SCR continued to hold the upper hand, and with just under 15 minutes remaining, Cooper-Smith smashed home his second and their third, after a tremendous crossfield ball by Jean-Luc Kinsaba.
The visitors pushed towards the end, and deflected effort in injury time robbed Ellaway of a deserved clean sheet
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