Carshalton Athletic 1 Sutton United 5

Newbury 90 Vansittart 5,76,80

Akrour 39

Salako 59

United returned to their best form to totally outclass their local rivals on Easter Monday and the victory included a hat-trick by leading scorer Joff Vansittart who looks to be returning to his best form in the last couple of matches.

Carshalton must have had high hopes of putting up a good performance after their victory over Enfield last week but they were second best especially in the second half when Sutton really turned it on and they must now be looking forward with relish to their vital league game against high flying Kingston on Saturday.

 Nassim Akrour made the starting line up after his spectacular winner on Saturday against Dagenham and his neat touches and ability in the air worried the home defence all afternoon. Steve Watson also returned to the side after his one match suspension, John Ugbah reverting to the substitutes bench.

 It only took Sutton five minutes to open the scoring. Andy Salako playing against his old club was put away down the right by a deft header by Akrour and his cross was met at the far post by Joff Vansittart who’s header back across goal nestled in the far corner.

 He could have made it two three minutes later rising above the home defence from a Jimmy Dack free kick but he put his header wide when unchallenged. Richard Newbury should have done better with Carshalton’s first chance after twenty minutes but he took his shot first time and put it wide of the post. He also forced Les Cleevely into a brilliant push around the post after thirty minutes when he rose above the Sutton defence to head goalbound from a free kick. But apart from a John Fowler shot right on half time the home side was living on scraps and Sutton always looked the more likely to score.

 Five minutes before half time the second finally came. Nassim Akrour who had missed a chance a few minutes earlier at the near post flicked on a long ball into the path of Junior Haynes who having beaten his full back saw his cross only cleared to the penalty spot and Akrour looped his header over goalkeeper Adrian Blake into the net. Martin Beard who had had a torrid time against Andy Salako was booked just before half time for an elbow in the face of Akrour as Sutton went to the break two up.

 The first goal after the re-start was always going to be crucial and it went to Sutton after fourteen minutes. Nassim Akrour dispossessed a Carshalton defender inside the box and his shot was pushed out to Jimmy Dack who’s cross to the far post was headed home by Andy Salako. Sutton now began to push the ball around with the confidence of a team at the top of its form. Joff Vansittart struck a spectacular fourth beyond a bemused Adrian Blake and then completed his hat trick ten minutes from time when he stroked in a Jimmy Dack knock down from yet another Salako cross.

 There was time for Richard Newbury to grab a consolation penalty for the home side after an untidy challenge inside the box by Barry Laker but by then the game was well and truly over. One blemish for Sutton however was the booking of Steve Watson along with Barry Kingsford for the home side after a flare up midway through the second half.

Les Cleevely, Danny Brooker, David Everitt, Gwynne Berry, Barry Laker, Jimmy Dack, Steve Watson, Andy Salako, Nassim Akrour, Joff Vansittart and Junior Haynes

 Clive Gartell replaced Danny Brooker

John Ugbah replaced Junior Haynes

Mark Watson replaced Nassim Akrour.