report by Tony Dolbear

SUTTON UTD 2 BEDFORD T 2

On paper a game Sutton would have hoped to win against a side below them in the league table, but they had to come from behind twice to gain even a point. A draw was probably about right, as for all the possession U's had, especially in the second half, they didn't make enough of it and also gave away two poor goals defensively. The first came in only the 3rd minute and was headed in by Steve Jackman unchallenged at a right wing corner, but U's didn't take long to cancel that one out, Jon Palmer's low corner from the left swept in by Chris Boothe with a powerful shot. Two goals in the first ten minutes set the tone for an entertaining game, and Paul Honey might have had another before 15 minutes was up when he thumped a 20 yard effort just wide after a good link-up between Jon Palmer and Lewis Gonsalves. Bedford were a threat when they attacked, though, and Kevin Slinn should have done better than direct a header at Tommy Dunn, A minute later Mark Paul was sent clear and although he lifted the ball over Dunn, his head was in his hands long before the ball rolled wide. Immediately visiting goalkeeper James Heeps went full stretch to hole Eddie Akuamoah's snap shot, but it was Bedford who finished the half on top, Slinn firing just over from Paul's low cross before the two combined again, Paul's pass allowing Slinn to go beyond a desperately square back line. This time there was no reprieve for U's, with Slinn drilling the ball under the advancing Dunn. Sutton might have levelled three minutes in to the second half in similar fashion to their earlier goal, but this time the corner came from Honey on the right and the shot from Mison. It was low, and cleared off the line. That was the closest U's came for a long while, despite having virtually all the possession. Too often the final pass or cross was disappointing, and when Matt Fowler came on with 19 minutes left it was one of the wide players, Jon Palmer, who gave way. Fowler needed just two minutes to make an important impact as he battled well on the right edge of the penalty area before laying the ball back to Matt Gray. This time the cross, clipped in first time, was a good one and when Bedford failed to clear the ball fell for Akuamoah to smash in from about eight yards out. Given the boost of the equaliser, the lack of a threat to Heeps' goal after that was a little disappointing and Bedford had their only real spell of possession in the last ten minutes. Mark Tucker, one of two players booked by referee Geoff Cork, came closest to a winner for either side when he headed a free kick just wide.

Sutton: Dunn, R Palmer, Gonsalves, Mison, Gray, Honey, J Palmer(Fowler 71), Boothe, Timothy, Haworth, Akuamoah. Subs n/u Corbett, Berry.

Bedford: Heeps, Miller, Tucker, Wilson, Jackman, Turner, Berry, Adams, Slinn(Edge 79), Paul, Lawley. Subs n/u Sozzo, Nuttell.

Referee: G Cork Attendance 591

NORTHWOOD RES 0 SUTTON UTD RES 2

17-year-old striker Nicky Bailey was put on contract by Sutton last week-and celebrated with both goals as recorded a fairly straightforward win in their first Suburban League game since November 10. U's made most of the first half running but missed a number of chances, none better than when Aaron Smith was brought down by the home goalkeeper but Barry Seal's penalty was saved. Eight minutes before the break, though, Bailey embarked on a run from half way, beating a defender and shooting past the keeper. He might have had another moments later, lobbing just over, and although Northwood put U's under more pressure in the second half Martin Dunne cleared off the line from the one real moment of danger and Bailey sealed the victory four minutes from the end after the home defence had given the ball away. In the last minute he hit the side netting, while Ben Moger cleared a late Northwood effort off the line.

Sutton: Ribolla, Moger, Taylor(Dray), Dunne, Howard, Arkwright, Bailey, Smith, Seal(Tydeman), Hastick(Heuston), Delandro.