100th goal for Walcott as Arsenal end Sutton’s dream run

TIL Desk Sports/Sutton United’s FA Cup fairytale ended as Arsenal forward Theo Walcott scored his 100th goal for the club in a 2-0 fifth round victory on a surreal night at Gander Green Lane on Monday. England forward Walcott added to Lucas Perez’s 26th minute effort shortly after the break as the 12-times winners avoided what would have been one of the competition’s greatest shocks.

The 5,000 capacity crowd wedged into the Borough Sports Ground in south London for the biggest night in the club’s humble 119-year history were even treated to a 15-minute cameo by Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez on the glistening artificial pitch. Sutton, 17th in the fifth-tier, 105 places lower down the English football ladder than Arsenal, could be proud of their effort in matching their famous visitors.

They will bank about 700,000 pounds ($872,410.00) for a fairytale Cup run that included a famous victory over former FA Cup winners Leeds United in round four. “It was a dream to watch my team play against Arsenal. The quality of the team they put out showed what’s at stake,” said Sutton manager Paul Doswell, who works for nothing and loaned the club 450,000 pounds interest free for its 3G pitch. “I’m very, very proud. This was our cup final and these players will go down in history at the end of the day.”