Tuesday 30th December 1997
Sutton United 2 Basingstoke Town 2
Guardian Insurance Cup Third Round (aet)
At: Gander Green Lane
Kick-off: 3-00 pm
Admission: £5 + £1 (seat); Programme: £1 (44 pages)
Attendance: 361
Weather: mild, windy with rain after 85 minutes
Second trip to Gander Green Lane in three days!
One-time FA Cup hero Matt Hanlan spared the blushes of Sutton United as he scored a late equaliser to send the tie into extra time, which failed to produce a winning goal.
Sutton (1st) and Basingstoke (20th) went into this Guardian Insurance Cup (aka Ryman League Cup) Third Round tie at opposite ends of the 22-team table.
Sutton attacked the far railway end in the first half which finished goalless. But goals weren’t far away and Sutton broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute. Joff Vansittart charged down the clearance of Basingstoke keeper Keiron Drake just outside the area and easily played the ball into an empty net as the visitors appealed for handball.
Basingstoke were awarded a penalty in the 76th minute but Paul Coombs saw his spot kick saved by Les Cleevely.
Vansittart’s goal looked like sending Sutton into the next round until the tie was turned on its head by the visitors. Basingstoke levelled things in the 81st minute when substitute David Asker converted a right-wing cross from Coombs.
Amazingly a minute later, the visitors were awarded another penalty for a foul by Andy Salako. Unlike Coombs, this time Simon Line fired past Cleeveley from the spot to put his side in front and on course for a surprise win.
However, Sutton aren’t league leaders for nothing and forced extra time with a 87th minute equaliser. David Everitt and substitute Nassim Akrour combined down the left and Hanlon converted the resulting cross with a low shot from 8 yards out.
The additional 30 minutes failed to produce a winner so the teams will replay at Basingstoke.
Sutton United (amber and chocolate quarters / chocolate / amber): 1. Les Cleevely, 2. Danny Brooker, 3. Barry Laker, 4. Gwynne Berry, 5. David Everitt, 6. Steve Watson, 7. James Virgo, 8. John Ugbah, 9. Joff Vansittart, 10. Rob Bates, 11. Andy Salako. Subs: 12. Matt Hanlon (for Bates, 57), 14. Nassim Akrour (for Vansittart, 70), 15. Sean Daly (for Ugbah, 89).
Basingstoke Town (blue and yellow stripes / blue / yellow): 1. Keiron Drake, 2. Danny Barker, 3. Steve Richardson, 4. Simon Line, 5. Clive Huxford, 6. Andrew Morley, 7. Paul Wilkinson, 8. Chris Ferrett, 9. Jamie Medford, 10. Paul Coombs, 11. Bruce Tydeman. Subs: 12. Alan Galvin (for Tydeman, 79), 14. Nigel Emsden (for Huxford, 70), 15. David Asker (for Medford, 65).
Referee: John Moore (Goring-on-Thames).
Goals:
1-0 Joff Vansittart (53)
1-1 David Asker (81)
1-2 Simon Line (82 pen)
2-2 Matt Hanlon (87)
Cards:
Sutton: Rob Bates (YC, 33), Matt Hanlon (YC, 90)
Basingstoke: none
