Report by Tony Dolbear

After the failure of the previous week's visit to St Albans to live up to pre-match expectations, Sutton and Basingstoke made a much better effort of producing a game that fitted both sides' top five aspirations on Saturday, and at the end the points were rightly shared. Sutton could have been ahead inside twenty seconds, and the visitors' almost snatched victory with the game's last action, but defeat would have been harsh on either side in an entertaining game that didn't contain a single malicious challenge. Sutton's early chance fell to Danny Bolt when U's won a free kick 20 yards out, and his low shot was pushed away with difficulty by Scott Tarr, who had barely recovered from that save before he was gratefully clutching a Matt Gray header following a corner. It soon became clear that, even without leading scorer Craig McAllister, rested following a week's trial with Stoke City, Basingstoke would carry their own threat, as before five minutes were up Neville Roach let fly a blistering 25 yard volley that crashed against the underside of the bar and came down very close to the line before being cleared. With Alex Ewin having a shot deflected just wide the visitors' appeared to be getting on top, but it was Sutton who struck the first blow. Matt Fowler did the hard work, breaking free down the right on to Gray's pass, and rounding Tarr as the keeper came out. The cross from the by-line was perfect, and Mark Watson nodded past the covering defenders. From there until half time Sutton did enough to have extended their lead, but some careless finishing from Watson(twice)and Eddie Akuamoah ended with efforts going too high, although none of the chances were easy. The closest to a second goal was Nick Bailey, whose 20 yard volley clipped the outside of the post after a Bolt free kick had been headed out. Roach was still a handful, though, and it took a fine save from Tom Dunn to prevent him equalising five minutes before the break when he raced clear. If Sutton had the better of the first half, Basingstoke could lay claim to the honours in the second, and Roach again came close with a fierce volley from beyond the far post that was scrambled away, while Kevin Gibbens mis-hit a volley straight at Dunn when well placed. U's were restricted to attacking on the break, but should have made one such attack count when they outnumbered the visitors' defence. However Bailey's pass gave Watson that bit too much to do, and by the time the ball arrived at Fowler's feet defenders were back and his shot was pulled wide. Sixteen minutes from time the equaliser came, stabbed in from close range by Ewin after a right wing corner had been headed down and goalwards. Either side could have gone on to win, with Bailey shooting too high after a good run and, a couple of minutes from time, a fierce Bolt free kick deflecting to safety, while at the other end McAllister, thrown on for the closing stages, met a left wing cross with a good header that for a moment appeared destined for the top corner until Dunn plucked it from the air. Referee Matt Knight blew the final whistle before the ball could leave Dunn's hands, and honour was shared.

Sutton: T Dunn, M Gray, L Gonsalves, R Palmer, D Brooker, N Bailey, D Bolt, P Honey, M Fowler, M Watson, E Akuamoah.. Subs n/u C Brown, M Hanlan, S Corbett. Goal: Watson(21).

Basingstoke: S Tarr, D Ray, N Stamp, K Gibbens, S Hemmings, I Dickens, N Wallace(sub T McCormick 83), G Howes, J Aschner(sub C McAllister 81), N Roach, A Ewin. Sub n/u R Allaway. Goal: Ewin(74)

Referee: M Knight Attendance: 567