SUTTON UNITED 2

YEADING 1

Gwynne Berry and Sean Daly were once again missing from Sutton's line up so it was the same team that played on Tuesday night at Bromley that took on Yeading at Gander Green Lane. This meant that James Virgo and Clive Gartell kept their places in the side.

As with a lot of games lately the crowd did not have to wait long for some action as within a minute Andy Salako was penalised inside the box for a clumsy challenge on David Kellman but Lee Protheroe with probably his first touch of the game missed the spot kick by a wide margin. Richard Gell was then booked for a late challenge on Clive Gartell.

After 14 minutes keeper Danny Honey dropped a seemingly straightforward cross from the right by Danny Brooker and Joff Vansittart hit a shot that was cleared off the line. Five minutes later an action replay, this time from a corner taken by Brooker, the Yeading defence failed to clear and ball fell again to Vansittart who once again had his shot stopped on the line. After that their were few chances in the game but just as we seemed to be heading for half time goaless, Yeading took the lead. A free kick on the right level with the Sutton penalty area was squared to Tony Houghton five yards outside the box and his left foot drive went in the corner past Les Cleevely's despairing left hand.

Two minutes after half time Sutton could have gone two behind but for a great one handed save by Les from Richard Gell. Sutton were finding it very hard to break down the Yeading defence who got nine players behind the ball whenever possible and after sixty minutes Jimmy Dack was booked for a foul. Sutton had to make change and after sixty-six minutes Dominic Feltham came on as he had done on Tuesday for James Virgo.

Within two minutes it looked to have succeeded Feltham putting in Andy Salako on the right and his deep cross was met beyond the far post by Joff Vansittart but his header went into the side nettting from an acute angle.

Fifteen minutes to go and at last Sutton got their reward Feltham combining with David Everitt to put Joff Vansittart in for a header which was brilliantly saved by Danny Honey but there was Matt Hanlan to push in the rebound. Three minutes later Sutton nearly went in front Paul Clark's header at the far post from a cross by Jimmy Dack being well saved at his near post by Honey who was now proving a barrier to everything Sutton could throw at him.

Six minutes from time Richard Gell was sent off for a second bookable offence and within a minute Sutton got their winner. A free kick awarded on the left side of the penalty area, taken by David Everitt reached Vansittart whose header was again saved by Honey but there was Paul Clarke to nudge in the rebound.

John Ugbah came on almost immediately for Matt Hanlan and Sutton held on for the win. With Dagenham and Redbridge losing at St. Albans their lead at the top is now cut to five points and Sutton still have three games in hand.

The line up was: Les Cleevely in goal, James Virgo, Clive Gartell, Paul Clark and Danny Brooker at the back. Steve Watson, Jimmy Dack, David Everitt and Andy Salako in midfield with Joff Vansittart and Matt Hanlan up front.

Dominic Feltham replaced James Virgo. John Ugbah came on for Matt Hanlan and Dave Pattullo was the unused Substitute

Next Saturday Sutton travel to Vauxhall Conference high flyers Cheltenham for the last qualifying round of the FA Cup.