Sutton United 2

With the team being in such poor form of late Sutton faced a daunting task away at Boreham Wood on Saturday but in the end were only thwarted from taking all three points by a last minute equaliser in a game that started quietly but really came to life in the second half.

With Paul Clark still suspended Azeez Akinbolu got a chance to build on his promising debut at Yeading last week and gave another good performance against the twin threat of Shaun Marshall and Tony Samuels one of the most feared striking forces in the league. Barry Laker also returned having been sidelined since the Guardian Insurance Cup game at St. Alban's.

Sutton should have gone in front early on. Barry Laker headed on a Jimmy Dack free kick and Joff Vansittart at full stretch toe poked the ball from four yards but it went straight at keeper Martin Taylor. However in the main, it was Boreham wood that held the advantage territorially although Les Cleevely was rarely troubled. Sutton did have one lucky escape though when Tony Samuels hit the base of a post after Sutton had given the ball away in midfield. Vansittart then had another header from a fine Junior Haynes cross that only just cleared the crossbar.

The tackling in midfield was particularly fierce as both sides fought for supremacy in that area and for the home side Simon Ireland who had suffered a fierce challenge at the hands of Clive Gartell had to give way to Bruce Sewell after twenty-five minutes.

Sutton had the advantage of the elements in the first half and must have been hoping to hold out for the opening stages of the second to give themselves something to build on but it wasn't to be. A poor piece of defending let in Rob Hollingdale and his volley from fifteen yards beat Les Cleevely to put the home side in front.

With a string of poor second half performances of late, (Yeading, Chesham, Hendon to name a few) this was just what Sutton didn't want and to add to their woes Clive Gartell was booked for one tackle too many and he was replaced soon after by John Ugbah.

There was an element of fortune in their equaliser five minutes later however there was nothing lucky about the build up. Joff Vansittart having his best game for sometime won a ball in midfield and put in Andy Salako on the right. His cross was met simultaneously by Junior Haynes and the home goalkeeper who both missed the ball which rolled along the goal line and Steve Daly covering his keeper made a complete mess of his clearance and only succeeded in putting the ball in his own net.

Wood desperate for points in their chase of Kingstonian at the top of the table pressed forward in the last twenty minutes and Sutton had to be grateful to Les Cleevely on more than one occasion and he in turn had to thank Joff Vansittart for a tremendous goal line clearance when Garry Nisbett shot looked goal bound.

Sutton always looked dangerous on the break and as the home side committed more men forward they were hit with a classic counter attack in the last minute of the game. Steve Watson won a ball in midfield, put Andy Salako in and his cross to the far post was met by Joff Vansittart who's header from five yards got him the goal that his performance deserved.

However as the Sutton fans were beginning to celebrate Boreham Wood equalised deep into injury time. Tony Samuels was the party pooper volleying home from the edge of the six-yard box after a long throw in was headed on. The referee blew the final whistle as Sutton kicked off and to add to their misery they found out that Kingstonian had surprisingly been beaten at home by Yeading by one goal to nil.

They now look forward to another top of the table clash next Saturday with Dagenham and Redbridge, another side who until a few weeks ago looked possible championship contenders. Kick off at Gander Green Lane 3pm.

The Sutton line up was:

Les Cleevely, Danny Brooker, Azeez Akinbolu, Gwynne Berry, Barry Laker, Jimmy Dack, Steve Watson, Clive Gartell, Andy Salako, Joff Vansittart and Junior Haynes.

John Ugbah replaced Clive Gartell

Mark Watson and David Everitt were the unused Subs.