Saturday 22 September - Ryman League Premier Division

Report by Tony Dolbear , as printed in the Sutton United programme

HITCHIN TOWN (O) 0 SUTTON UNITED (1) 2

Hitchin: 1 N Webb; 2 J Bone, 5 S Cretton (sub 15 I Scott 79), 4 T Allpress, 3 N Grime; 7 R Kean, 8 D Sarll (sub 12 C Rydeheard 88), 11 C McMenamin, 6 C Williams; 9 J Barnett (sub 14 G Jaggard 84), 10 C Akurang. Booked: McMenamin (42-foul).

Sutton: 1 C Martini; 5 D Arkwright, 2 G Berry, 4 M Mison; 7 R Palmer, 8 C Boothe, 3 P Honey, 11 D Alighieri~ 10 S Keevill (sub 15 J Murray 65); 9 R Haworth , 6 E Akuamoah. Subs n/u 12 J Palmer, 14 D Panter. Goals: Arkwright, Akuamoah. Booked: Keevill (27-foul)

5coring: 26 mins 0-1: Honey free kick from left met at far post by Arkwright, whose header comes back off the keeper for him to lift the ball in from close range. 76 mins 0-2: Haworth dispossesses Cretton as he tries to bring the ball out, and plays pass through to Akuamoah who slots left foot shot low to keeper's right. Referee: M Downey Attendance: 352

Report: At last three points, and for the first time this season the security of a two goal lead after Hitchin had looked likely to equalise early in the second half. Keevill was unlucky to have only a booking to show in the statistics of his debut as three times in the first 25 minutes he found himself good positions, but he saw a header saved at the second attempt, curled a 20 yard shot just wide and then, after a neat piece of skill to beat the defence, was denied by the oncoming Webb. That came a minute after Honey's misplaced pass had allowed Barnett to be put clear, but he shot straight at Martini. Arkwright profited from his aerial power and, it has to be said, some unimpressive goalkeeping, to put us ahead, although Hitchin almost levelled when Kean shot across the face of goal, Martini just getting a touch. We had plenty of defending to do in the second half, but Akurang put a chance in to the side netting and Alighieri blocked a Kean shot affer Mison had headed out a cross from the left. Murray's arrival, and the fact that we had survived the pressure, saw us come more in to the game, and after Murray had gone past Webb and set up Boothe for a shot that Haworth tried unsuccessfully to divert in with his head, Haworth's persistence and strength led to a second goal that eased the tension. Boothe might have added a third after more good work by Murray, but his first shot was blocked and his second saved.