Chesham United 3

Sutton United 3

Sutton let a golden opportunity to collect three points slip away here having been three up within the first half hour they allowed their lowly opposition to claw their way back to take a share of the points.

 After Saturday's lackluster performance there were some changes made including the return of Joff Vansittart to the starting line up. There was a strange incident early on when Chesham had a shot that clearly went into the side netting but ended up in the back of the net. The referee and groundsman did some remedial work on a hole in the net and play was held up for some five minutes.

However, all looked to be going well as Sutton cruised into a three goal lead. After eleven minutes the home defense was all at sea as Matt Hanlan headed a deep Jimmy Dack corner back across goal for Joff Vansittart to send a header goalwards. The keeper made a terrific point blank save but John Ugbah followed up to score. Chesham did force Les Cleevely into one good save after fifteen minutes pushing a John Lawford shot over the bar but it was really all Sutton and five minutes later they increased their lead. A brilliant piece of work near the corner flag by Matt Hanlan gave Danny Brooker the chance to cross and Jimmy Dack was unmarked seven yards out and headed home. It got even better for Sutton after 28 minutes as a carbon copy of the first goal, Paul Clark heading back this time for Ugbah to score from even closer range put Sutton three up.

 Chesham however pulled one back straight away, John Lawford finding himself unmarked at the far post from a corner, his shot going across Les Cleevely into the far corner of the net.

 Jimmy Dack then had a free kick ten yards outside the box that was brilliantly turned over by Kevin Mitchell and from the resulting corner Youness Nabil, who tormented Sutton all night, broke away and fed Lawford on the edge of the box and his twist, turn and shot beat Les Cleevely to put Chesham right back in the game.

 There was very little incident at the beginning of the second half but after seventeen minutes the games most controversial incident occurred. Les Cleevely pushed away a Chesham corner and was trodden on as he fell. Clearly upset he retaliated and was duly booked by referee Keegan who then gave a penalty which Lawford put away to level the score and complete his hat trick.

 Dave Pattullo was booked soon after for a reckless challenge and Dave Everitt followed for dissent a few minutes later. Sutton did have the ball in the net soon after when Joff Vansittart converted a Danny Brooker cross but that was ruled out for offside. But in truth it was Chesham who were creating the chances now. Chris Maguire missed with a free header and Lawford only just missed his fourth with a fierce strike that only just cleared the angle of post and bar. Steve Watson did have one good shot with four minutes to go having been put through by Matt Hanlan but it was Sutton who were probably more glad to hear the final whistle.

 The Sutton side was Les Cleevely, Danny Brooker, Gwynne Berry, Paul Clark, Dave Pattullo, Steve Watson, Jimmy Dack, Dave Everitt, John Ugbah, Matt Hanlan and Joff Vansittart. Sean Daly came on for Jimmy Dack and Andy Salako and Barry Laker were the unused Subs.

Dagenham increased their lead at the top of the table on Monday night when they beat Heybridge Swifts by six goals to two.

 Sutton now return to Chesham on Saturday for an FA Trophy tie kick off 3pm.

Chesham United 2

Sutton United 1

A catalogue of missed chances caused Sutton's early exit from this year FA Trophy. A fairly quiet start to the game saw Steve Watson have a difficult chance that he lifted over the keeper and the bar early on. But it was Chesham who struck first in the thirteenth minute from a corner. The ball was only partially cleared and when it came back in a scramble ensued and the ball finally fell to Dean Murphy eight yards out and he buried his shot into the net.

That was really Chesham's last chance of the half as Sutton took control up the slope and could have had the game over by half time. Twenty minutes gone and a Joff Vansittart header only just cleared the bar from a Jimmy Dack free kick. Five minutes later John Ugbah won the ball in midfield and Jimmy Dack put David Everitt in on goal but when he seemed to be bearing down on the keeper he took the ball wide and the keeper smothered his shot cum cross. Just a minute later the Chesham defence was split wide open again by a move involving Matt Hanlan and his cross was met by Steve Watson who blazed over from inside the six-yard box.

After forty minutes Watson turned provider and John Ugbah found himself free in a similar position but again put his shot over the bar. Two minutes before half time a Danny Brooker header was cleared off the line after a great move involving Hanlan and Steve Watson.

A very quiet start to the second half but after eighteen minutes Sutton finally got the goal their dominance deserved. Danny Brooker took a corner on the left and the flight deceived keeper Kevin Mitchell and there was Matt Hanlan at the back post to head in from a narrow angle. Sutton supporters probably thought that the U's would go on to win comfortably now but the wet pitch and driving rain probably began to take their toll and the game became scrappy which probably suited Chesham.

Trevor Argrave, Chris Fontaine and Dean Murphy were all booked for late tackles and Steve Watson followed them soon after for dissent. That was probably his last contribution of the game as within two minutes he was carried off and replaced by Andy Salako. Eleven minutes from the end a good cross by the substitute was met By Matt Hanlan at the near post but the ball just went wide.

The game seemed to be heading for a replay but with two minutes to go disaster struck. A regulation cross came in from the right and seemed to be comfortable for Les Cleevely but he spilled it , no doubt due to the wet conditions right at the feet of John Lawford who slotted the ball into the net. This was cruel on Sutton but was an abject lesson on taking chances.

The Sutton side was:

Les Cleevely, Danny Brooker, David Everitt, Dave Pattullo, Gwynne berry, Paul Clark, Jimmy Dack, Steve Watson, John Ugbah, Matt Hanlan and Joff Vansittart.

Andy Salako came on for Steve Watson.

Gavin Geddis came on for Dave Pattullo.

Barry Laker was the unused Sub.

Sutton now face a trip to Staines on Tuesday in the Full Members Cup. Kick off at Alwyns Lane, 7.30pm.