Sutton continued their string of poor performances at home with this unconvincing victory against lowly Boreham Wood at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday evening. Injuries must also be a worry for manager John Rains as key players, Danny Brooker and Mark Watson limped out of the game at various stages and John Ugbah also looked to be struggling by the finish.

Sutton made one enforced change going into the game Andy Riley pulling out due to a family bereavement. Otherwise it was the side that cruised to victory at Harrow Borough on Saturday.

The game started very quietly Sutton unable to break down a Boreham Wood side that showed very little ambition going forward but the game was lit up by a stunning goal in the 22nd minute. The ball was played out to Mark Watson on the left and his cross was met by Nko Ekoku who had made a huge amount of ground up to get into the box and his left foot volley crashed into the net to put Sutton one up. Steve Watson was booked for a poor challenge after thirty minutes his apparent frustration summing up the half for the home side.

Sutton were forced to make a change at halftime, Danny Brooker having picked up an injury just before the break. His place was taken by John Ugbah, himself returning from injury. This caused Sutton to go to a back three of Richard Skelly, Gwynne Berry and Barry Laker who found himself in unfamiliar role on the right side. The changes clearly affected Sutton’s rhythm and Boreham Wood began to play with more adventure and looked quite dangerous. Mark Watson did have one good chance early on when he took advantage of a defensive mistake but hit his shot wide when he was one on one with the keeper. Soon after he had to leave the field with an ankle injury to be replaced by Barry Blackman.

Boreham Wood by this stage were beginning to control the game and deserved their equaliser however when it came there was more than a hint of good fortune. Steve Heffer looked suspiciously offside when he headed the ball against the crossbar from beyond the far post, however the ball rebounded directly to substitute Paul Shaw who swept in the rebound. Gwynne Berry was booked for protesting about the goal and at this stage the visitors looked favourites to go on and win the game but Sutton had different ideas.

David Harlow had already missed a good chance at the far post just failing to direct a header from Barry Blackman beyond the keeper when, with ten minutes to go and against the run of play, Nko Ekoku met an Andy Salako cross and toe poked it under the keeper to put Sutton back in front.

Sutton now face the tough prospect of a visit to the Recreation Ground, Aldershot to meet the league leaders on Saturday Kick off 3pm.

They are a point clear of Sutton after a one all draw at second placed Bromley tonight. At the other end of the table Carshalton dropped into the bottom three after a crushing 5-0 defeat at Dagenham while Heybridge Swifts lifted themselves off the bottom with an unexpected victory at Walton.

The Sutton line up was: -

Gareth Howells, Danny Brooker (John Ugbah), Barry Laker, Gwynne Berry, Richard Skelly, Steve Watson, Dave Harlow, Andy Salako, Nassim Akrour, Mark Watson (Barry Blackman) and Nko Ekoku.

Junior Haynes was the unused Subs.

The Boreham Wood side was: -

Martin Taylor, Steve Daly, Bruce Sewell, Jason Shaw, Steve Sanders, Dominic Grime (Shaw), Simon Ireland, Tony Samuels, Mark Xavier, Steve Heffer and Mark Brown.

Bob Makin and Kerry Dixon were the unused subs.