Ruby: Sutton point proves Beavers can survive (From Your Local Guardian)

Ruby: Sutton point proves Beavers can survive

9:50am Friday 13th January 2012 in Sport By Stuart Amos

Hampton & Richmond Borough skipper Matt Ruby believes the penny has finally dropped for his side and Blue Square South survival is within their grasp.

Boss Mark Harper’s men held high-flying Sutton United to a 2-2 draw at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday to back up Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Tonbridge Angels.

A James Simmonds penalty – after United defender Osa Obamwonyi was sent off – and a close-range Charlie Moone effort, saw Hampton twice come from behind to share the spoils.

Sutton chief Paul Doswell has backed the Beavers to climb out of the Blue Square South drop zone providing they show the same resolve for the rest of the season.

Former Hampton loan star Joel Ledgister twice gave Sutton the lead on Tuesday, but the manner of Hampton’s fight back left Ruby confident of more points this season.

“We haven’t been beaten in 2012 and if we can keep that going as long as possible then the chairman and manager will be happy and the boys will be buzzing,” he said.

“We always thought Joel might come back to haunt us but we were delighted with the point against a team that is right up there.

“We’ve got a young team and it has taken a while for everything to gel and everything that has been drilled into us is finally beginning to kick in.

“If we can go out with the mentality of not losing games then we won’t go far wrong.”

Hampton got to Ryman Premier League strugglers East Thurrock in the FA Trophy on Saturday and Ruby admitted it was time the Beavers put a smile on the face of the fans.

“It will be nice to have a little break from the league and see what we can do in the cup,” he added.

“We owe the club, the chairman and – most importantly – the fans a performance in the cup.

“If we can take our current league form in to the cup I’m sure we will be OK.”