SUTTON, England (Interstat) — Sutton scored three times and held off West Brom U21 for a 3-2 victory at home in a match that swung on an early exchange and a decisive second-half strike. West Brom U21 opened the scoring in the ninth minute when Parmar R. found the net. Sutton responded in the 14th minute through Samuel Folarin, then took the lead in the 19th minute when Bobby Amartey scored. Charlie Bell helped set up two Sutton goals, and the home side carried a one-goal advantage into the break.

The most important passage came as Sutton answered West Brom U21’s early goal and then added to its lead after halftime. Folarin’s equalizer changed the mood, and Amartey’s goal five minutes later put Sutton in front. Sutton extended the margin in the 66th minute when Omar Mussa scored. West Brom U21 pulled one back in the 77th minute through Justin Seven Seven, setting up a tense finish, but Sutton kept the visitors from finding an equalizer. West Brom U21 scored twice in the match, while Sutton finished with three goals. The early goal gave West Brom U21 a brief lead, but Sutton’s response was quick and sustained. Folarin’s finish leveled the match, and Amartey’s goal gave the home side control. Bell’s two assists were central to Sutton’s attack, and Mussa’s goal gave Sutton breathing room. Seven Seven’s late strike gave West Brom U21 hope, but the visitors could not force an equalizer.

Amartey’s goal was the highlight of his 90-minute appearance for Sutton. Folarin scored in the 14th minute and was shown a yellow card in the 48th minute before being substituted in the 74th. Bell recorded two assists across 60 minutes before leaving the match. For West Brom U21, Alfie Maughan played 90 minutes and provided an assist. Rio Palmer was among the visiting side’s key performers, logging 86 minutes and receiving a yellow card. Omar Mussa needed only 30 minutes to score. Justin Seven Seven scored and was booked during a 15-minute appearance.

Discipline played a role as the game grew more physical. Parmar R. was booked in the 18th minute for West Brom U21. Perkins A. received a yellow card in first-half stoppage time. Sutton’s Babalola T. was booked in the 46th minute, and Folarin followed in the 48th. West Brom U21 picked up a yellow card in the 66th minute, Seven Seven was booked in the 82nd, and Sutton’s Knight J. was cautioned in the fourth minute of second-half stoppage time. The cards came amid a stretch in which both teams made changes. The bookings interrupted the flow, with both teams forced to manage the closing stages carefully.

Sutton made substitutions in the 46th, 60th and 74th minutes, with Taylor J., Babalola T., Bell C. and Folarin S. all involved. West Brom U21 turned to its bench in the 67th, 75th and 86th minutes, bringing on Unadike W., Dlamini N., Blackshields C., McNeil R. and Parmar R. The changes did not stop Sutton from protecting its lead after Seven Seven’s late goal. Sutton’s bench helped see out the final minutes, while West Brom U21 used its late changes in search of an equalizer.

The result moved West Brom U21’s record in this competition to 0-1, while Sutton improved to 1-0. Across all competitions, West Brom U21 is now 1-2-1, and Sutton is 1-2-2. West Brom U21’s previous results this season included a draw with Ipswich U21, a win at Coventry City FC and a loss at Bromley U21. Sutton had lost to Boreham Wood, drawn at Kidderminster, lost at Tamworth FC and drawn with Forest Green before this victory. West Brom U21’s upcoming Premier League Cup schedule includes home matches against Bromley U21, Coventry City FC and Ipswich U21. Sutton’s win gave it a strong start in the competition, while West Brom U21 remained without a point.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Sutton 2, West Brom U21 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Sutton with a 68.9 percent probability to win.