Sutton United made a statement in the National League's opening round, running out 3-0 winners at Woking on Saturday afternoon. The visitors took control early and never looked back, with goals from W. Nightingale, O. Mussa and D. Ogbonna securing all three points. By then it was clear this would be a one-sided affair.
Nightingale opened the scoring in the twenty-seventh minute, finishing off a well-worked move. Woking had already seen Mussa booked in the fifteenth minute for a late challenge, and the tension was building. The home side pushed for an equaliser but the defence held firm.
Mussa himself turned provider for the second goal, converting in the fifty-fourth minute after a period of sustained pressure. He would be substituted in the seventy-ninth minute, his evening work done. Three yellow cards for Woking — Ward, Urpens and Topalloj — told their own story of frustration.
Ogbonna added a third in the eighty-fourth minute, closing out the contest. Six substitutions were made across the final forty minutes as both managers tried to manage the game. The home side had thrown everything forward but found themselves second to everything.
Statistics told the tale of efficiency. Sutton United registered five shots on target from twenty attempts, while Woking managed just two on target from sixteen attempts. Possession was evenly matched at fifty percent each, but the visitors converted their chances with clinical precision.
The result moves Sutton United up to fifth place on twelve points from six games, while Woking remain twenty-third with four points. Both sides have played the same number of matches, but the gap in confidence is already visible in the table.
