Sutton Common Rovers 3-1 Phoenix

Phoenix bow out of FA Cup at Sutton Common Rovers

Chris Wood ©

Phoenix Sports exited the Emirates FA Cup after a disappointing 3-1 defeat against Sutton Common Rovers at the War Memorial Ground on Saturday.

Phoenix made three changes to their starting line-up, with Jamarie Brissett returning from suspension while Joe Denny and Jack Peters were also handed starts.

There was little to separate the sides during a cagey opening, with Sutton Common Rovers looking to cause problems through a series of long throws into the penalty area. Phoenix defended them well and took the lead after 29 minutes.

Brissett produced some excellent work down the left before sliding the ball across to Taylor Fisher. His shot

took a slight deflection on its way past the goalkeeper to give Phoenix a 1-0 advantage.

The lead lasted until the 42nd minute, when Daghan Basaranoglu fired into the roof of the net from just inside the penalty area to bring the hosts level.

Jack Peters and Khayrie Harris were both shown yellow cards for pulling back Sutton players shortly before the interval, which arrived with the teams level at 1-1.

Steve Townsend replaced Harris at half-time, but Phoenix made the worst possible start to the second period. The visitors were caught attempting to play out from the back and Ben Edmonds took full advantage, smashing the ball into the roof of the net from outside the area in the 49th minute.

Things got worse five minutes later when Louie Procopi misjudged a header, allowing Luke Rippon to run through and calmly place his finish beyond Ryan McCourt to make it 3-1.

Phoenix struggled to produce the fight or urgency required to find a route back into the tie, while McCourt was called upon to make a couple of routine saves as Sutton continued to look the more threatening side.

Townsend forced a save from the home goalkeeper in the 84th minute, but Phoenix were unable to mount a late comeback. It was a deeply disappointing second-half display from Phoenix, who bow out of the FA Cup at the first hurdle.