report by Tony Dolbear
For the second successive Saturday Sutton were beaten by a three goal margin, and if the previous week's scoreline at Maidenhead had been slightly harsh on them there was no such consolation at Meadow Park. Producing probably their worst performance of the season they were second best by a distance to a Boreham Wood side who picked up three vital points in their bid to stay in the Premier Division. In the relegation zone for the first time this season after Monday's defeat against Enfield, it was as though the home side suddenly realised they were in trouble and had better do something about it, and despite a paltry attendance of 190, the atmosphere on and off the pitch was that of a team very definitely 'up for it'. It could have worked against them, as they had two players booked inside the first twenty minutes, defender Scott Honeyball for a late challenge on Craig Brown and goalkeeper Noel Imber when referee Geoff Russell soon tired of the torrent of protest coming at every decision. However they had gone close after just eight minutes when Jamie Ribolla went full stretch to turn away a Gary Dixon volley, and had the boost they needed of a goal five minutes later. Jude Stirling, who had already caused alarm with two of the longest throw-ins seen this season, epitomised the spirit by chasing back and eventually dispossessing Ryan Palmer just inside the Sutton half, and then ran at the defence before slipping a pass to his left where Andy Findlay drove a low shot in to the far corner of Ribolla's net. U's were unable to gain even the slightest foothold in the game, threatening only when Scott Corbett headed a Danny Bolt free kick across goal, but it was easily cleared and the home side went on to score a second before the half hour mark had been reached. Mark Watson was booked for a foul on Nick Grime, and from the halfway line Imber, who had scored the previous week, launched a free kick to beyond the far post where Honeyball headed back and Dixon, among the league's top strikers throughout the season, volleyed stylishly home. It might have been worse for Sutton before half time as Palmer cleared off the line from Findlay and Dixon headed a Grime free kick just wide, and things didn't greatly improve in the second half. It was indicative of Sutton's afternoon that when Bolt tried his luck from a free kick well within his usual range, the ball was still going up when it went out of the ground, and although they were having more of the play any thought of a comeback was quashed on the hour by Findlay. Booked early in the second half and perhaps a little lucky not to see a second yellow card for his reaction to an admittedly wild challenge from Nick Drew, he was left unmarked to head in a left wing corner from Youness Nabil and then promptly substituted. Ribolla prevented a fourth goal with two good saves from Dixon, but his opposite number wasn't called on to make a save of any note, although Corbett did have him scrambling in the 68th minute with a low 20 yard shot which went just wide. Corbett and Nick Bailey also picked up bookings before the end for heavy challenges, and, while a game with seven bookings would normally lead to a few disapproving comments about the referee, on this occasion Mr Russell sensed quite early that he needed to keep a lid on things and of the seven only Watson, who in a less charged atmosphere might have been given the benefit of the doubt, could claim to have been hard done by.

Boreham Wood: N Imber, D Grime, N Grime, G Wotton, S Honeyball, J Stirling(sub D Raymond 86), M Preston(sub M Whittington 88), C Browne, G Dixon, A Findlay(sub J Hunter 62), Y Nabil. Subs n/u L Bell, K Addai. Goals: Findlay(13,60), Dixon(28). Booked: Honeyball(11-foul), Imber(17-dissent), Findlay(48-unsporting behaviour).

Sutton: Ribolla, D Brooker, D Hamlin, R Palmer, N Drew, N Bailey, D Bolt, S Corbett, E Akuamoah, M Watson, C Brown. Subs n/u M Gray, M Hanlan, D Beale. Booked: Watson(27-foul), Drew(55-foul), Corbett(71-foul), Bailey(79-foul) .
Referee: G Russell Attendance: 190