1 Sutton United v St Albans City 1

by David Parker

After the first half display Sutton were lucky not to be more than one goal down as St Albans performance was far better than Uniteds.

It took only seven minutes for St Albans to break the Sutton defence when a thru ball from midfield cut thru Suttons wooden defence to Simon Martin who squared the ball across the area to Younes Nabil who was able to slide the ball past Chunk Martini, while under pressure from Ryan Palmer, to put City one up. Ten minutes later United were in trouble again when Martin broke free of Suttons defence but put the ball wide of the target. On twenty-two minutes St Albans again wasted the chance to extend their lead when Darren Fenton slipped the ball from midfield to Martin who again missed the target. United had the chance to level before half time when Martini's ball up field fell to Ryan Palmer whose quick cross into the area for Jade Murray who saw his shot rebound off the keepers leg and fall to Akuamoah whose shot was also blocked by the keeper. Rob Haworth controlled the rebound and tried to knock the ball over the keeper who was still on the floor but his shot was well over the bar.

The second half Sutton took the game to St Albans and made the full time score more deserving. With fifteen minutes of the second half gone Sutton pulled level when Akuamoah ran thru the defence and pulled the ball back for Palmer who was brought down inside the area. Chris Boothe stepped up to take and saw the kick clip the post and go in. With twenty minutes left Akuamoah played a ball to Haworth who had time and space but his shot went narrowly wide of the target. United almost took the lead with ten minutes left when a corner was swung in by Palmer and Mison was able to direct his header down ward, the shot bounced off the floor and was tipped over by the keeper. United could have lost the points when with five minutes to go when Fenton ran into the area and was well challenged by Brooker but the ball fell to Campbell whose shot rolled past the post. In the dying minutes Sutton could have stolen the points when Panters cross was headed goal wards by Murray but his shot bounced the wrong side of the target.

In the end Sutton just about deserved a point but still have to work harder if they are to move up the table.