The hope and optimism of the the new year celebrations lasted about thirty minutes in the return christmas fixture with Hayes. Sutton had done enough at Church Road to gain the points and they started well in this game. Hayes were missing 3 of their regular defenders , although Sutton were down Gwynne berry through a long term injury and Danny Brooker starting the first of his 3 match suspension. After 6 minutes Ed Hutchinson struck a sweet low drive to the left of the keeper, from outside the area. to score his first senior goal for Sutton. United continued to press forward and a powerful run from Mark Watson saw him into the Hayes box , his shot skidded off the surface , wide of the keeper but not out of Aiden Newhouse's reach who made it 2-0 (22 mins) . Sutton had looked comfortable up to the thirty minute mark , Newhouse twice close to extending the lead, but following an injury the Andy Riley Sutton had to re-arrange the defence. From then on they always looked vulnerable. And the worse happened in the 41st minute. In an almost identical move to the winner they scored at their place, Hayes took the lead. A cross was meet by a Charles diving header. Hayes, from then on looked most likely to score.
In the second half Hays got the deserved equaliser. A 20 yard shot from Steve Mckimm pinballed off a couple of players before nestling in the back of the Sutton net. Hayes pushed forward for a winner and Howells made a fine stop from Charles. Sutton pushed forward a bit towards the end but never looked like stealing all the points.
HOWELLS,LEE,SKELLY,RILEY,LAKER,HARLOW,HUTCHINSON, HARFORD, NEWHOUSE , WATSON , ROWLANDS SUBS WINSTON, SEARS, FORRESTER , EKOKU , BAKER.