A thrilling five-goal encounter at the VBS Community Stadium saw Sutton United emerge victorious against a spirited Ebbsfleet United, winning 3-2 in a match that kept fans captivated until the final whistle.
The hosts drew first blood in the 7th minute. A well-worked move culminated in Jayden Harris providing the assist for Will Davies, who finished clinically to give Sutton United an early lead. Despite sustained pressure from the U’s and two yellow cards for Ebbsfleet – one for Davies for a foul in the 20th minute and another for Junior Eccleston just three minutes later – the visitors’ defence remained resolute for the remainder of the first half.
The second half was a whirlwind of action. Just six minutes after the restart, Harris, having set up the opener, turned goalscorer. A perfectly weighted pass from Lewis Simper found Harris in space, and he calmly slotted the ball home to double Sutton’s advantage.
Ebbsfleet, however, refused to be cowed. Half-time substitute Dominic Poleon injected much-needed pace and energy into the attack, and his impact was immediate. He pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 56th minute, setting the stage for a tense finale. The momentum swung further in Ebbsfleet’s favour when Franklin Domi capitalised on a defensive lapse to level the scores in the 67th minute.
Just as a draw seemed inevitable, Sutton United found a late winner. Fellow half-time substitute Eduino Vaz provided the crucial assist, setting up Ashley Nadesan to fire home in the 77th minute. Ebbsfleet pressed for a second equaliser, but Sutton’s defence, despite late yellow cards for Chinwike Okoli and Steve Arnold, held firm to secure a valuable three points.
The high-octane nature of the match was reflected in the numerous substitutions made by both sides throughout the second half. Ultimately, Sutton’s resilience and clinical finishing proved decisive.
The victory lifts Sutton United to 10th place in the National League table with 15 points, while Ebbsfleet United remain in 24th place with 5 points, having not faced each other in the league for three seasons.