When the Ryman League fixtures were published, and even at the start of the season, if Sutton had been offered a repeat of last season's 1-1 draw at Canvey Island they would probably have accepted it gladly. Yet when that result came to pass at Park Lane on Saturday U's had every right to feel that it should have been better. Ahead early on through Danny Bolt, they were soon pegged back by a fairly soft equaliser from Chris Duffy, but at the end of the game they were able to point to three woodwork strikes and a missed penalty as evidence that they should have been celebrating all three points, although Tom Dunn had to be at his best inside the last fifteen minutes as the Essex side looked for the victory that would give a boost to their poor start to the season. U's could have been ahead after just eight minutes, Danny Hodges' effort crashing down off the underside of the bar before being cleared, but had to wait only five minutes more to break through. Matt Fowler's pass through to Bolt beat the home team's offside trap, and Bolt, who had finished last season in Canvey's colours, shot confidently past Danny Potter to open his league account for the season. U's lead was shortlived, as five minutes later Duffy's cross from the right carried on the strong breeze and flew in to the top corner past the stranded Dunn. Seven minutes later Dunn did well to keep out lee Boylan's close range effort, and he also saved well from Duffy, but it was in the early stages of the second half that U's should have taken control. Ryan Palmer hit the foot of the post from a poorly cleared corner, and on the hour fine work by Bolt on the right set up Fowler for what seemed a formality but he miskicked his effort over the bar. Three minutes later Bolt hit the bar with a curling effort after cutting in from the left, but U's best chance came in the 66th minute when Mark Watson was brought down by Micky Bennett as he lined up a shot. Bennett was booked, but Watson failed to make him pay even more by striking a poor penalty that Potter was able to save. It might have been an expensive series of near misses as Canvey finished the game strongly but U's, whose defence again looked solid, held on for their point with Dunn making several good stops as they came under pressure. Canvey:Potter, Kennedy Duffy, Chenery, Ward, Bennett, Forbes, D Gregory, N Gregory(Brayley 67), Boylan(Dozzell 80), Minton. Subs n/u Adedeji, Protheroe, Harrison. Sutton: Dunn, Beale, Hollands, Palmer, Hodges, Honey, Bolt, Corbett, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves. Subs n/u Hanlan, Gray, Shannon. Referee: D Elstone Attendance 779