After a fun trip to Mallorca last weekend it was back to non-league football in the UK and I came to the Withdean Stadium, Brighton, to see an FA Vase first round fixture between AFC Varndeanians of the Southern Combination Football League, Premier Division and Sutton Athletic of the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division.

The Withdean Stadium is an athletics stadium in Brighton, where world record holder, Steve Ovett was based. In 1999 it became the home of Brighton and Hove Albion, before their departure to the new Amex Stadium, in 2011. The ground has a big grandstand with covered seating for around 1300, although the record attendance in the stadium was as high as 12500 for an American Football fixture between Brighton B52s and San Francisco Rams in 1985.

I had seen AFC Varndeanians play two weeks ago, when they were beaten heavily 6-0, away at Seaford Town, despite having held the home team to a goalless tie in the first half. Defensive frailty under pressure had been their weakness, so I anticipated goals today.

Today’s Vase fixture saw two sides with contrasting seasons coming together. AFC Varndeanians have started poorly in the SCFL Premier Division, sitting in the relegation places with two wins, a draw and nine defeats from their opening twelve games. More concerning is the fact that Varndeanians have conceded 33 goals at a rate of almost three a game. Top scorers for the V’s have been Julian Durand and Jack Langford who have both scored two goals. Manager Bradley Bant will have come into today’s game hoping for a change in fortunes, as the league pressure lifted today.

Today’s visitors, Sutton Athletic, have by contrast made a great start to the season, with six wins, three draws and four defeats, leaving them in fifth place with twenty one points, after thirteen games. Manager Ryan Huckle, has relied on goals this season, from Taylor Fisher (6 goals), James Bayford (3 goals), Ryan Mahal, Conor Evans and Namory Kane (all 2 goals). The visitors would have hoped their early season form would have given them the edge in this tie.

The deadlock was broken as early as the 13th minute, when an error by Jordan Hawkins in the Varndeanians’ goal, under pressure from a corner, allowed the ball to fall for Joel Wakefield to volley home from close range to put Sutton Athletic 0-1 up.

After a first half where Sutton Athletic seemed to be camped in the AFC Varndeanians half, it took a controversial goal to see the visitors finally extend the lead to two goals in the forty first minute. A long free kick saw the ball fly across the area to the head of Joel Wakefield, whose effort was judged to have crossed the line by the referee, despite the protests of the home side.

There was still time before the half time whistle to see a late scramble cleared off the line by the visitors before an audacious lob from Sutton Athletic’s club captain, Conor Evans, from 30 yards caught out the AFC Varndeanians’ keeper and my filming, to make it 0-3 on 44 minutes. That sent the teams into the break with the V’s really struggling to stay in the game.

The second half started more brightly with AFC Varndeanians creating some early pressure. However on 64 minutes Sutton Athletic extended their lead to 0-4 with a fine headed near post finish by Louis Lovell.

With just five minutes remaining the visitors scored their fifth with a fine volley from distance by fullback Luke Mercer to seal a very disappointing afternoon for the home side and their fans.

At the full time whistle it was Sutton Athletic who secured a Kent victory over Sussex ensuring they go into the hat for the next round of the FA Vase.