Sutton 1 County 3
Three goals, three points, and a return to the third tier within touching distance
Sunday 7 April 2024
NEXT HOME GAME: Morecambe – Saturday 13 April, 3pm
NEXT AWAY GAME: Colchester – Tuesday 9 April, 7.45pm
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Dear County fans, Stopfordians, Sutton supporters, and anyone else from The Football Family joining us today, a very warm welcome to your Sunday edition of The Scarf My Father Wore, with the Hatters on the verge of League One!
Three points at Colchester on Tuesday night, coupled with a Mansfield defeat at home to Forest Green, and Dave Challinor’s men are mathematically in the third tier next season. Of course, win, and we’re practically up anyway with our superior goal difference, but we’d have to wait until Morecambe at home on Saturday to see the ‘P’ on the league table, and possibly even the ‘C’ on the same day…
For now though, let’s put the permutations to one side, and just enjoy County’s fourth win on the bounce. John K Bilsbury was in the away end at Gander Green Lane yesterday afternoon, with Dan from Gandermonium joining us once again for the Sutton view.
Our first live event of 2024 is taking place this month. ‘Flynny at the Finger’ – an evening with County legend Mike Flynn – is at The Fingerpost on Wednesday 17 April. Start time 7.30pm. If you’d like to join us, please email thescarfmyfatherwore@substack.com. Tickets are £10 (or £5 for paid subscribers plus anyone who’s written an article for The Scarf My Father Wore). That includes a full colour souvenir programme, and even a little bit of stand-up comedy!
Today’s edition is sponsored by G Thomas Training, joining The Scarf My Father Wore family for the first time! A big thank you to Gillian.
Thanks also to The Robin Hood who sponsor our Sutton content on the website.
Finally, I’m currently walking every street in Stockport to raise money for mental health charity Mentell. If you’d like to make a donation to help me reach my target, please click here.
Total distance so far: 136.36 miles
Total steps so far: 217,174
Total raised so far: £1,666
Total completed streets so far: 271 (Click here for the full list, which includes reports and photos from every day of the walk.)
Further information on the walk can be found by clicking here.
Des Junior
✍️ Saturday’s match in one word
Dan: Meh.
John: Convincing.
🤔 Pre-match thoughts
Dan: Bit of a free hit to be honest given who Forest Green and Colchester were playing too. Any points would have been a bonus. Hoped we’d take the confidence from the four wins, keep it tight early and play into the game, take it from there. Would have taken a draw but wasn’t to be.
John: Since we tanned their backsides just before Christmas, Sutton have found a bit of form and by dint of winning four on the trot, they’ve dragged themselves out of the dead zone. I thought we should have enough to see them off but I could see them frustrating us and getting a narrow win.
🧐 Post-match thoughts
Dan: Kinda went the way I’d half expected, but as mentioned whilst it was a bit of a free hit, I was far from impressed with conceding from basically the first set piece of the day. Still, Colchester losing means there’s no real change at the bottom, so not a fatal blow.
John: I always say that anyone who thinks County have something in the bag hasn’t been paying attention since 1883, but perhaps I need to learn to trust more. [Des: Have more faith John, I’ve already got ‘League Two champions 2023-24’ tattooed on my arse.]
🟡 Verdict on Sutton
Dan: Not our best, we’ve been far better than that lately. The early goal seemed to chuck our game plan right out the window and whilst we showed flashes of what we’ve been capable of lately, we never truly got going over the 90. Also once Lakin failed to return after the break, we lost that drive he gives us. And the defending for the second and third goals was very ‘December’ from us. If I never see one more ping over our left-back leading to a square ball and a finish from an unmarked striker it’ll be too fucking soon.
John: They have some big lads and they fought hard. They might just get another season in League Two, especially if we can beat Colchester on Tuesday.
⚫️ Verdict on County
Dan: Decent. Did enough to get the win and showed the quality when it mattered. Would have liked to have seen how things panned out second half at 2-1. But Madden’s third in added time and losing Lakin at the break meant it was a largely dead contest after the restart and you saw it out with little bother.
John: Controlled. Going 3-1 up so early meant Dave Challinor could marshal his resources for the busy run-in.
🟡 Top U
Dan: Tough one as I didn’t think anyone truly stood out or had a particularly good game for us to be honest. I guess Harry Beautyman battled away gamely in the middle.
John: Nobody really stood out but their No. 9, Harry Smith, strove hard without getting enough of the ball to make a real impact.
🎩 Top Hatter
Dan: Can’t argue with Madden. His third was a belter.
John: You can’t look past the man who scored all the goals: Patrick Stephen Madden.
👂 Atmosphere
Dan: The usual moans, groans and acerbic comments, mostly aimed at yet another dreadful League Two linesman. Place was a bit flat second half really, but that comes from what was happening on the pitch. Like I said, never really got going.
John: The home team’s choir had a drum and sang gamely at times, considering their parlous league position and the fact that they were losing from a few minutes in. Their County counterparts made a racket throughout with a confidence that being top of the league brings. I found a seat that I could see from without standing 90% of the time, which is pretty much all I ask of a ground. The stewarding has been praised by some of our support; I didn’t have any contact with them so I can’t offer an opinion.
🙏 Hopes for the rest of the season
Dan: To stay up. But it’s going to be tough. Really need Colchester to fail to pick up anything from their next two and we need at least two wins from the last three. It’ll be tough, but at least we’re still in the fight.
John: As far as I can see from my spreadsheet, we need one more win to get promotion on goal difference and three more wins to be champions. I’m starting to believe we can do it.
😀 Best part of the day
Dan: The usual idiots before and after talking absolute bollocks over a beer.
John: Paddy’s superb third goal. I knew then we were going to win.
😡 Worst part of the day
Dan: Grimsby winning probably means it’s between us and Colchester for the second relegation spot now, but then again that was expected what with them taking on a Newport side that have been on the beach for a couple of weeks already. Never expected them to bollocks that up, but would have been nice.
John: Waiting to leave on the coach after the match. One bloke arguing the toss with our organiser and one of the drivers about the need to stop at the services on the way back and a drunken goon who’d wandered off to a nearby pub and got the police on our case by delaying our departure by a quarter of an hour.
The British Library receives a copy of every single book published in the UK. In the same fashion, Des Junior believes a detailed record of every County game should be preserved for the history books. So here’s the full story of our 3-1 victory at Sutton United on Saturday 6 April 2024, as told from his County-related WhatsApp groups…
3.05pm: Madden! 1-0.
3.32pm: Madden again! Gorgeous pass from Sarcevic.
3.35pm: Sutton penalty…
3.36pm: Scored.
3.48pm: Madden hat-trick! Absolute scorcher.
3.51pm: TWAT! Did you see that? The man's got a foot like a traction engine.
4.39pm: Byrne offside after making an overlapping run on the right wing. Now we are taking the piss.
4.58pm: St Andrew’s next season!
5.02pm: I don’t do golf.
5.06pm: I’d rather Huddersfield and Sheffield Wednesday than Birmingham.
5.52pm: To be fair it’s three points lost straight away going to Birmingham.
12.37am: Just wanted to take a moment to say how brilliant today was. One of my favourite ever County away days, in fact – really solid, commanding performance on the pitch and great atmosphere off it. Most of all it was just great fun, not an emotion we experience too often with County. I know we like to look forward and speculate what it all means bigger picture, but I just enjoyed being in the moment, right there, singing songs about going up standing alongside some of my best mates, and knowing there was zero chance we were throwing that game away. Today felt really special, like Peterborough away in 2007-08, where players and fans felt completely on the same page, and I was so happy to be a part of it. These days don’t happen too often, so I want to hold on to every moment because today was one of those days. 💙
1.23am: Are you pissed?
Get yourself in shape with G Thomas Training
Gillian Thomas runs classes at The Ridge Climbing Centre in Marple every Monday, Tuesday and Saturday. If you’re wanting to get your beach body in shape for your summer holiday, or simply want to get a little bit fitter, now’s the time to do so!
To book a class give Gillian a call on 07941 293481 or email gthomastraining@gmail.com.
If any of our readers are in London this week, grab a bite to eat at The Robin Hood
The Robin Hood pub has an indulgent menu which features seasonally fresh flavours, decadent pub classics and tender cooked meats, that all feed the soul.
Their traditional burgers and classic dishes are a sure favourite and if you’re in need of something to nibble on whilst you ponder the menu their new bar snacks are the perfect taster.
Food served from 12pm till 9pm, Monday to Saturday, and 12pm till 6pm on a Sunday.
Address: 52 West Street, Sutton, SM1 1SH
Photo of the day
A little bit of Jimbo on a Sunday afternoon.
Today in SK
🎬 Cinema
Two films at The Savoy Cinema (SK4) today. Kung Fu Panda 4 (PG) at 4pm, followed by Wicked Little Letters (15) at 6.30pm. Click here for tickets.
🍺 Food and drink
If you’re in Stockport today, pop into The Petersgate Tap (SK1) for a pint or two. Open till 9pm.
🎶 Free jukebox
The Nelson Tavern (SK1). 3pm - 6pm.
Random County fan of the day #89 – Paddy McPugface Madden!
One final thing before you go… if you’d like a spring clean for your car, carpets, house, oven or even your windows, get in touch with our brilliant bunch of sponsors!
🎨 Art & Gifts: Kate O’Brien Art
🧱 Builders Merchant: MKM Manchester South
🧽 Car Valeting: Rub A Dubz Detailing Ltd
🧼 Carpet Cleaning: A Star Clean Ltd
🏠 Carpets & Flooring: Kingsway Carpets & Rugs Ltd
🐈 Cat Flaps: That Cat Flap Company Ltd
👶 Child Health: The Sleep Nanny
🏠 Chimney Sweep: Three Shires Chimney Services
🧹 Cleaning: Beespoke Cleaning
🚙 Coatings: Colourtone Ltd
🗣 Counselling: Time and Space Counselling
🚘 Driving School: CFN School of Motoring
💷 Financial Services: The Mortgage Mill
🔥 Fire Protection: Radial Fire And Security Limited
👟 Fitness: G Thomas Training
🍏 Greengrocers: Waterhouse’s Quality Food
🛁 Grout Refresh & Recolour: GroutGleam Stockport
💇♀️ Hairdressing: C West Hairstylist
💻 IT Services: Bridge Computer Services
🪚 Joinery: SAW Contracts Ltd
👨🍳 Kitchen Appliances: SW Appliances
🌳 Landscaping: PR Landscapes
🔑 Locksmith: APL Locksmiths Ltd
🧤 Oven Cleaning: That Oven Girl
🖌 Painter & Decorator: BGM Decorators
🚑 Personal Injury: Parkers Solicitors Ltd
📸 Photography: Holly Dwyer Photography
🎹 Piano Tutor: Sophie Grace Piano and Keyboard Tuition
🧱 Plastering: DT Plastering Services and Damp Proofing Specialists
🚰 Plumber: GTG Gary the Gasman
🦶 Podiatry: SK Podiatry
📕 Publishing: Victor Publishing
🤳 Social Media Management: Believe Media
☀️ Solar Panels: Malbern Solar Ltd
👨💼 Solicitors: B.J. McKenna & Co
⚽️ Sports Coaching: UK Sports Coaching Ltd
🪨 Stonemason: LM Stone Creative
🪵 Timber Supplies: Portwood Timber Division of Illingworth Ingham (Manchester) Ltd
☀️ Travel Agent: PTF Travel Ltd
⚖️ Weight Loss: Slimming World Reddish & Bredbury with Shlean
🪟 Window Cleaner: R ‘N’ B Window Cleaning
🧘♀️ Yoga: Greenshoots Yoga