BASINGSTOKE T 3 SUTTON UTD 0

                       Thanks to Tony Dolbear for this report.

The difference that confidence can make was all too obvious at the Camrose on Tuesday as Sutton slumped to a defeat that, if Croydon went on to avoid defeat in their game against Harrow on Wednesday, will have left them at the foot of the Ryman League table. Basingstoke ended a run of four defeats on Saturday by beating Hendon while Sutton squandered a promising position at home to Enfield, so it was the Hampshire side that started in the better frame of mind and after grabbing an early goal rarely looked likely to be beaten. That strike came in the 8th minute as Stuart Girdler sent a right foot shot dipping past Chuck Martini, and although the home side had Mark Lisk booked for a foul on Damian Panter, U's had made little impact by the time the lead was doubled just after the half hour mark, Tim Sills being put through to lift the ball over the advancing Martini. Sutton had chances to reduce the damage before half time, as Eddie Akuamoah combined well with Chris Boothe but then allowed Scott Tarr to come off his line and save, and the keeper was out again to foil Jade Murray before the break. Murray made way for Matt Fowler early in the second half, and U's substitute had a chance when Tarr came out to block from Rob Haworth and the ball fell loose. Although Fowler's shot carried over the keeper and covering defenders it also cleared the crossbar. Haworth put another header wide, but, with Michael Mison booked and Fowler forced off again near the end to be replaced by Dante Alighieri it wasn't Sutton's night and this was shown in the closing minutes as Mison was harshly adjudged to have handled a cross and Sean Gorman completed U's misery from the penalty spot.

Sutton: Martini, Arkwright, Honey, Mison, R Palmer, Akuamoah, Panter, Boothe, Murray(sub Fowler 51)(sub Alighieri 86), Haworth, J Palmer.

Referee: M Ebbage

SUTTON UTD RES 2 BASINGSTOKE T RES 0

Sutton's reserves atoned in some way for the first team's defeat on Tuesday when they beat Basingstoke's second string with some comfort. In a game that U's dominated the goals came in an eight minute spell either side of half time through Leon Morris, who was put through by substitute Ben Moger, and Aaron Smith, who shot home from Martin Dunne's cross. Smith had earlier had an effort ruled out for offside while Tommy Dunn had a quiet evening in U's goal.

Sutton: Dunn, Stevens, Dray(Moger), Dunne(Loucas), Gonsalves, Delandro, Williams(Hastick), Smith, Seal, Morris, Johnson.