report by Tony Dolbear

Sutton's highly encouraging start to the Ryman League season, which after an hour at the New Eyrie on Saturday looked to have every chance of succeeding, was stopped sharply in its tracks by two goals in the space of five minutes from home substitute Ross Harrison. It will annoy U's that after going 244 minutes without conceding a goal they gave away two that were both eminently avoidable, and coupling that with being on the rough end of two or three crucial decisions by referee Gary Evetts made it a frustrating afternoon. U's effort once again couldn't be faulted and there was plenty to give U's fans hope during the afternoon, including a superbly taken goal by Matt Fowler which paved the way for probably his best performance in a Sutton shirt to date. It gave U's a lead at half time which was slightly against the run of play, but they had done enough in the first twenty minutes of the second half to correct that before they hit problems. Bedford had started well, with Kevin Slinn shooting wide after just four minutes with just Tom Dunn to beat, and Lee Broughton having a shot blocked from Rob Miller's pull back. Broughton also had an overhead kick saved by Dunn, but injured himself in the process and gave Harrison the chance to give his 'supersub' performance. His arrival came as U's were celebrating a goal with their first seriously dangerous attack in the 33rd minute. Mark Watson burst between two defenders on the right and pulled back a waist high cross that was skilfully converted by Fowler's left footed near post flick across goalkeeper Steve Wilson and inside the top far corner. Bedford could have been level within two minutes as Gary Williams met a left wing corner at speed but Darren Beale cleared off the line and U's went in at half time with their lead intact. In the first twenty minutes of the second half they came close to doubling it as Fowler, confidence increasing, stung Wilson's hands with a ferocious angled volley, and then broke free on the left before unselfishly laying the ball back to Danny Bolt. His low shot was cleanly struck, but Wilson pushed it against the inside of the post and the ball rolled along the goal-line just evading Watson's lunge before going out. Mr Evetts added insult to injury by awarding a goal kick, not only upsetting Sutton but probably Wilson as well as it was a fine save made with rather more than just fingertips, and moments later the frustration produced U's first yellow card of the season, Danny Hodges' dissent the offence. Bolt then just cleared the crossbar with a typically audacious quickly taken 45 yard free kick, but in the 64th minute U's defence was finally breached. Dunn came for, but failed to reach, Eddie Lawley's right wing corner and Harrison headed in to the unguarded net. Five minutes later worse followed as Ryan Palmer tried to shepherd the ball out for a goal kick but was dispossessed by Mark Paul, who pulled the ball back from the by-line for Harrison to score at the near post. U's made a commendable effort to recover, with the introduction of Matt Gray and Matt Hanlan reinforcing the attack at the expense of two defenders, and they came closest when Gray's drilled cross from the right was headed over by Hodges. They should have had another chance though when Watson was wrestled to the ground on the edge of the penalty area but, having waved play on in the first half after a similar incident in the centre circle, Mr Evetts again failed to see, or chose to ignore, the foul. It would probably have been a free kick rather than a penalty, but with Bolt on the pitch U's supporters might claim there would be little difference, and in both cases the Bedford defender was the last man and would have been at risk of a red card had the free kicks been given. Bedford: Wilson, Harvey, Lawley, Jacklan(Folds 59), G Williams, Broughton(Harrison 33), Miller, Berry, Slinn, Paul, Sozzo(C Williams H-T). subs n/u Smeathers, Lomas Sutton: Dunn, Beale(Hanlan 78), Hollands(Gray 72), Palmer, Hodges, Honey, Bolt, Corbett, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves. Subs n/u Bailey. Referee: G Evetts Attendance 559