Gravesend & Northfleet 2

Sutton United 2

Sutton went into this game on the back of two successive league defeats and without having scored in either game and when Steve Portway put the home side two up after an hour another painful league defeat looked on the cards. But the introduction of Nassim Akrour was the catalyst for a rousing last half-hour in which U's surged back to take a point that could prove to be priceless at the end of the season.

Sutton started brightly and ex U's goalkeeper Ron Fearon, on loan from Dover, had to be at his best to deny Paul Clark and Danny Brooker early on. Steve Portway however, was a constant thorn in Sutton's side and it was he who put the home side in front with a goal very similar to the one conceded at Dulwich on Tuesday. Richard Dimmock got away down the left and his fine cross was headed home by Portway who had got between two Sutton defenders leaving Les Cleevely with no chance.

This was slightly unfair on Les who had made two fine saves to keep the game level, one from Andy Adebowale, a superb tip onto the bar when a goal looked odds on. Apart from the early chances and a Junior Haynes shot that cannoned back off Fearon early in the second half, Sutton looked low on confidence and it was not really surprising that they went two behind on the hour. Jones was tripped just inside the box and Portway coolly slotted his and Gravesend's second from the spot.

It was hard to see a way back from there but Sutton made an immediate change replacing Barry Laker with Nassim Akrour and within three minutes had pulled a goal back. A long pass out of defence by Gwynne Berry was headed on by Joff Vansittart who then left a trail of defenders in his wake before blasting a volley past Fearon.

Although Portway could have got his hat trick soon after when he struck the side netting Sutton had now taken the initiative and looked the more dangerous side. Akrour had a header just past the post and, with five minutes to go, Vansittart was guilty of a bad miss when put through by Steve Watson but with only the goalkeeper to beat he put his shot wide.

Into injury time and with Sutton still a goal behind Les Cleevely made his way into the penalty area for the second game running and this time did get his head to the ball and when it dropped loose Steve Watson gleefully hit the ball home on the half volley. Just how close to the end this came was shown as Gravesend only just had time to kick off before referee Ross blew the final whistle.

So Sutton have had their lead at the top of the table cut to just one point but with two of the chasers, Dagenham and Kingstonian playing each other next Saturday Sutton will be hoping to increase their lead at the top when they take on lowly Oxford City at Gander Green Lane kick off 3pm.

The Sutton line up was:

Les Cleevely, Danny Brooker, David Everitt, Gwynne Berry, Paul Clark, Barry Laker, John Ugbah, Steve Watson, Junior Haynes, Joff Vansittart and Matt Hanlan.

Nassim Akrour replaced Barry Laker

Danny Mills and Dave Pattullo were the unused subs.