Sutton United’s first win of the Skrill South season came at a cost as Jamie Stuart joined the back of an increasing queue outside the treatment room.
Already without Jamie Slabber, Simon Downer and Dale Binns, skipper Stuart limped out of the 4-1 win over Staines Town last night after a challenge that saw the Staines man sent off.
However, aside from the three points, there was a silver lining in that Jamie Taylor – himself just returning from injury – bagged two clinical goals to cement his tag of goalscorer.
Louis-Ray Beadle’s red card in the first half came with the score at 1-0, and United took full advantage with a Craig Dundas strike and an own goal off a Dean McDonald cross.
Taylor said: “It is always nice to score your first of the season, especially after the disappointment of Saturday at Eastleigh [1-0 defeat].
“But it’s nice to get any sort of win at home and we did it in style.”
He added: “After the sending off, the lads were queuing up to score – there were five or six of us.
"I should have got my third goal but I snatched at a shot when I would normally back myself to score.
“It could have been eight, but it is three points regardless whether it is 1-0 or 10-0.”
Doswell said: “Jamie [Stuart] is struggling. The Staines lad came through his ankle and when Jamie comes off the pitch, it is a fair assumption that he is injured because I have never known him to come off without reason.
“It is not looking too good, but we will have to wait and see ahead of Saturday.”
Doswell, who gave Damian Scannell his debut in midfield against Staines, added: “We don’t want too many more as it is becoming a problem.
“Jamie [Slabber] missed the Aldershot game, and we gave him a week’s rest.
“Since then we have done lots of remedial work and he trained last week, and felt fit to start against Eastleigh. Then he felt the hip in the warm-up and we could not risk him.
“He is going for a scan tomorrow [Wednesday] and hopefully it will be two or three weeks’ remedial recovery, hopefully it won’t be too serious.”
Man of the moment: Jamie Taylor bagged two in the win over Staines (all pictures: SP78637)
All for one: Celebration times after Jamie Taylor's opener
Clear: Anthony Riviere clears the Sutton United back lines
So close: Craig Dundas is beaten to possession by the Staines keeper Jack Turner
Not this time: Jamie Taylor fires towards goal but with no end product
New boy: Debutant Damian Scannell brings the ball away for Sutton United
Looking into the sun: Manager Paul Doswell
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