Sutton United (2) 3 Akrour 18mins. Riley (pen.) 37mins. Blackman 90mins.

Hampton (0) 2 Savage 9 (pen.) 62mins. Forte 74mins.

United went four points clear at the top of the table with this exciting victory at Gander Green Lane on Saturday. They welcomed Andy Riley back into the starting line up as the only change from the team that had won against Bishop Stortford on Tuesday with Barry Laker reverting to the bench.

Andy Salako should have put U’s in front as early as the sixth minute but he failed to connect with a cross after a brilliant run by Nko Ekoku had split open the Hampton defence. Ekoku caused all kinds of problems throughout the match and it was from another good run and cross that Sutton took the lead after eighteen minutes, Nassim Akrour rising majestically above the Hampton defence to cleverly flick the ball into the corner.

It was all Sutton at this point and two minutes later it should have been two Ekoku again the provider but Mark Watson’s shot was blocked by keeper Mark Russell with his legs from point blank range.

Nick Burton was having such a torrid time against Ekoku that Hampton made a change after half an hour bringing on Darren Forte. An intense battle was raging throughout the first half in central midfield where Steve Watson and David Harlow were again supreme. Jamie Beer was booked for a tackle on Watson just before the break.

It is hard to remember a worthwhile Hampton attack in the first half as Sutton were totally dominant and playing like league leaders. They looked likely to score in every attack and it was no surprise when they increased their lead after thirty seven minutes, Andy Riley blasting home a penalty after Mark Watson had been barged over in the box to give Sutton a comfortable half time lead.

At this stage, it was hard to see the visitors getting back into the game after the mauling they had taken in the first half but Sutton were guilty of taking their foot off the pedal after the break and once again gave the home fans palpitations. Andy Salako missed two good chances to put U’s in total command soon after the break his diving header from an acute angle going just beyond the post after the keeper had beaten out Steve Watson’s shot. Five minutes later he was unlucky when his shot hit the inside of the post after an exquisite knock down from Akrour had put him in on the right edge of the box.

Hampton until this point had not troubled Gareth Howells at all but seventeen minutes into the half Johnson Hippolyte suddenly appeared in the box and Howells was slightly fortunate not to be dismissed by referee Graham Monk when he brought him down as he was about to shoot. Ian Savage then sent him the wrong way with the spot kick.

Almost immediately Andy Salako should have restored Sutton’s two-goal advantage but he blasted over from close in from more good work by Ekoku. This appeared as if it could be crucial when poor defensive play fifteen minutes from time brought the sides level. A cross from the left was allowed to land at the back post at the feet of substitute Darren Forte who slammed it home with the home defence looking quizzically at one another.

At this point it would have been a brave man to forecast a U’ victory but they tore into the opposition determined not to drop two more vital home points. Mark Watson missed two guilt edged chances before John Rains made a change with ten minutes to go replacing Andy Salako with Barry Blackman. Hampton also made two substitutions desperately trying to lower the tempo of the game, Andy Gray coming on for Matthew Miller and Robin Lewis replacing Ian Savage. Jamie Beer was thwarted by a good save by Gareth Howells for the visitors and a minute later he allowed his frustration to boil over when he clattered into Nko Ekoku near the halfway line and was sent off for his second bookable offence.

With Hampton reduced to 10 men Sutton piled on the pressure and as the game entered injury time they got their just reward. David Harlow took a corner on the left and Barry Blackman rose above the defence to flick the ball into the far corner with the keeper stranded to score his first competitive goal for the club. A huge sigh of relief went round the ground and with their nearest challengers Aldershot and Billericay sharing the points in the day’s top fixture Sutton’s lead at the top is extended.

The Sutton line up was:

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

Barry Laker was the unused Sub.

The Hampton side was: -

Mark Russell, Warren Drew, Nick Burton (Forte), Peter Wood, Steve Cheshire, Dave Stephenson, Jason Brown, Ian Savage (Lewis), Johnson Hippolyte, Jamie Beer, Matthew Miller (Gray)

All subs. were used.

Attention now turns away from the league this week as Kingstonian are the visitors on Tuesday in the Isthmian Charity Shield Kick off 7.30pm. Next Saturday Sutton travel to St. Leonard's in Sussex in the 2nd qualifying round of this year’s FA Cup, Kick off 3pm.