Sutton United beat Rochdale 2-1 on Saturday afternoon in a match that shifted sharply in the final half-hour after a fairly even opening.
Rochdale took the lead just before the interval when Ian Henderson converted, and he added a second shortly after the restart to put his side in a commanding position. The visitors looked organised and composed, and for a spell after the break Sutton struggled to find a way through.
Lewis Simper's withdrawal on 58 minutes signalled a change in Sutton's approach, and within six minutes the tie had turned. Connor McBride pulled one back on 64 minutes, and Devante Rodney levelled almost immediately. Two minutes later, Ethan Ebanks-Landell put Sutton ahead for the first time, and suddenly the home side carried the momentum.
The closing stages grew congested with substitutions and bookings. Jake Taylor and Jayden Harris both came on around the 71-minute mark as both benches sought to influence the outcome. Rodney went close again before the end, and there was late activity from both sides as the game ran into stoppage time.
Henderson, who had done most to put Rochdale in front, could not help them hold on. Sutton's ability to shift the tempo after an hour was the defining factor. They absorbed a difficult period and responded with three goals in under ten minutes.
Hayden Muller and Dan Urpens were both involved late on as Sutton saw the game out.
Recap generated from the event timeline. Editorial team review by request. How we use AI.
