I think we've exceeded other peoples expectations in our first season at this level, says Sutton Athletic coach Tristan Cropley

SUTTON ATHLETIC coach Tristan Cropley says the club have exceeded people’s expectations this season.

The Amateur Hextable based outfit are playing in the ninth-tier of English football for the first time this season and are presently in eighth-place in the Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division table, having picked up 29 points (eight wins, five draws) from their 18 league games.

Conor Evans took his goalscoring tally for the season to nine, scoring in the top far corner during their 3-1 home win over Lordswood at the weekend.

Talisman striker, Arlie Desanges, has scored 15 goals this season.

Attention now turns to tomorrow night’s home Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Third Round tie against Tooting Bec.

Matt Hancock’s men are currently in sixth-place in the First Division table and were held to a 2-2 draw at home to Rochester United last time out.

“We will take it seriously.  As a club we go into every game wanting to win,” said Cropley.

“We lost in the Semi-Final to Sheppey last season and gave a great account of ourselves against the quadruple winners.

“We played Tooting Bec three times last season, including the play-off semi-final.  They have made a number of changes since the start of this season so it’ll be a case of concentrating on ourselves and hopefully progressing.”

Reflecting on their league campaign, Cropley said: “I think we’ve exceeded other people’s expectations.  We have a good small squad who know their roles and the style we play.  The manager (Daniel Kelly) gives them the freedom to play and express themselves and more often than not it results in a positive outcome.

“We’ve added six or seven to the group from last season and have improved the strength and depth of the squad.  Every one of the 18 men have contributed to our first season at this level.”

Sutton Athletic  v  Tooting Bec
Southern Counties East Football League Challenge Cup Third Round
Tuesday 10 January 2023
Kick Off 7:45pm
at Lower Road, Hextable, Kent BR8 7RZ