SUTTON UTD 2 MAIDENHEAD UTD 1

Despite being a goal down at half time, Sutton had played well enough against the wind during the first half of Saturday's Ryman League clash that most of their supporters will have felt confident that they would turn things round after the break. The scoreline shows that they did, and for their refusal to give up deservedly so, but only after half an hour of frustration did the chances, and eventually two quickfire goals, arrive to transform their afternoon. Maidenhead defended their lead stubbornly and physically, and while it hardly made for edifying viewing the ends seemed set to justify the means as U's failed to create anything in the way of clear chances for much of the second half. Referee Henry de Winne had seemed set to stamp his authority on the game when he booked Maidenhead's Obinna Ulasi after just four minutes for a crude challenge on Dave Timothy, but despite ending the game with a further six names in the book he did not have an afternoon with which he will be happy as the two or three genuinely nasty fouls of the game went unpunished. Sutton played well before the break, sensibly keeping the ball on the ground wherever possible, and Lewis Gonsalves produced some good crosses in from the left which might have brought greater reward. Considering the strength of the wind they had behind them Maidenhead's first half performance was anaemic, but they did come close in the 34th minute when Ryan Palmer misjudged a long clearance and leading scorer Lee Channell miscued his shot well wide as Tommy Dunn came out. U's keeper was helpless, though, six minutes later when Jamie Jarvis won a challenge in midfield and sent the ball through to Rob Saunders, who scored easily as U's looked in vain for an offside flag. Maidenhead barely deserved their advantage, but they stopped at little to preserve it after the break and Sutton found it impossible to make any impact. Timothy and Mike Mison were both booked for fouls, Paul Honey and Jarvis saw yellow after a midfield flare-up in which the Maidenhead player, dismissed for sending Matt Fowler flying in the earlier game at York Road, could easily have completed a notable double, and visitors' substitute Eamonn McConigley picked up a booking within four minutes of coming on after another foul. It all added up to poor fare, with Dunn as untroubled as his opposing number, and U's failure to create more than a couple of half chances was disappointing whatever the nature of the defence they were up against. The introduction of Matt Fowler and Matt Gray gave them an extra attacking spark just in time, and after Palmer had brought a routine save from Barnard with a 20 yard shot, Fowler volleyed just wide from similar distance after Rob Haworth had headed a long ball in to his path. At last U's saw an opportunity, and with seven minutes left Eddie Akuamoah, who had been unable hitherto to have any major influence, twisted through on the left and crossed for Timothy, whose efforts deserved reward as much as anyone, to climb highest in a crowded six yard box and head in. The relief on and off the pitch was obvious, and a minute later the turnaround was complete as Dunn launched a clearance downfield and a header sent the ball out for a corner. Akuamoah's flag kick from the right eluded players at the near post but Mison arrived to force the ball past Barnard from just outside the six yard box amid much excitement. Maidenhead tried to fight back, and Adrian Allen sent a free kick wide, but it was hard to begrudge U's their success, or to feel that much sympathy for the visitors, who did at least shade the yellow card figures thanks to Brian Connor's injury time lunge at Akuamoah.

Sutton: Dunn, Timothy, Gonsalves(Fowler 68), Mison, Palmer, Honey, Wingfield(Gray 78), Corbett, Hammonds, Haworth, Akuamoah. Sub n/u Bailey.

Maidenhead: Barnard, Rose, Connor, Kelly, Croxford, Jeffrey, Jarvis, Ibe, Channell(McConigley 74), Saunders(Allen 74), Ulasi. Sub n/u Rake

Referee: H de Winne Attendance 495

The Suburban League meeting between the teams at York Road was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch, and Sutton's Southern Youth League game at Croydon on Monday was also called off as their opponents are currently in dispute with the league.