Sutton United 2

Basingstoke Town 2

Both sides used the opportunity to rest players in this match, Sutton left out Paul Clarke and Jimmy Dack and Nassim Akrour started on the subs. bench. They welcomed Steve Watson back into midfield and gave a first outing to Rob Bates their new signing from Colchester.

Les Cleevely had to be alert in the first minute as Paul Coombs got through but the striker mishit his shot enabling the goalkeeper to smother his shot. Eight minutes gone Sutton had two chances to go in front. Joff Vansittart had his shot beaten away by Kieron Drake in the Basingstoke goal and Steve Watson hit the upright with the keeper beaten although there was a flag up for offside so the goal may have been disallowed.

The remainder of the first half was very poor although Rob Bates did manage to get himself booked on his debut for a late challenge on the Basingstoke keeper.

Indeed the game seemed to be drifting along in the second half as well until a moment of controversy sparked the game into life after fifty-three minutes. The keeper seemed to be favourite for a long through but Joff Vansittart blocked his clearance and the ball fell kindly for him to walk the ball into an empty net with the whole defence desperately appealing for handball.

Seven minutes later Sutton should have wrapped the game with their best move. Matt Hanlan who had just replaced Rob Bates back heeled the ball into the path of Joff Vansittart and his delightful through ball put in Steve Watson but he ballooned his shot over the bar. Nassim Akrour replaced Joff Vansittart soon after and this heralded an amazing last fifteen minutes.

Paul Coombs was brought down by Danny Brooker who then stepped up to take the penalty which was brilliantly saved by Les Cleevely but this only seemed to spur Basingstoke on. A mistake by Barry Laker four minutes later let in substitute David Asker for the equaliser and within two minutes Andy Salako was adjudged to have brought down Bruce Tydeman and this time Simon Line stepped up to put Basingstoke in front.

This provoked a fierce Sutton response and with only seconds remaining Matt Hanlan equalised, twisting and turning to get a shot in after the ball had been well controlled by Nassim Akrour. Sutton could have even won the game in normal time and Hanlan again shot straight at the keeper when through one on one and Akrour from the resulting corner headed just over the bar and the game went into extra time.

John Ugbah, struggling with what looked like a hamstring injury, was replaced by Sean Daly soon after the start of extra time and with the rain and the pitch becoming heavier by the minute neither side created a good chance although David Everitt had two appeals for penalties turned down by referee John Moore and Nassim Akrour had two half chances to put Sutton through. So it's a replay at Basingstoke on a date yet to be notified, a result that probably neither side needed or wanted.

The Sutton line up was:

Les Cleevely, Danny Brooker, David Everitt, Gwynne Berry, James Virgo, Barry Laker, Steve Watson, John Ugbah, Andy Salako, Rob Bates and Joff Vansittart.

Matt Hanlan replaced Rob Bates

Sean Daly replaced John Ugbah

Nassim Akrour replaced Joff Vansittart

Sutton now travel to St Alban's ground on Saturday to play Bishop's Stortford who are unable to use their own ground at present.