report by Tony Dolbear
Sutton's young side, boasting an average age of just over 23, gained an excellent point at the Recreation Ground on Tuesday against a side expected to be challenging for honours this season after adding expensively to their squad during the summer. U's could even have taken all the points, although it was Tom Dunn who had to make the best save of the night near the end, but a draw was just about a fair result to a game more entertaining than the average 0-0. It was Sutton who had the first spell of pressure with Danny Hodges going close twice inside the first half hour, firstly when he couldn't quite take advantage of a poor clearance by Mel Capleton, and then when his header was blocked on the line after Ryan Palmer had headed back a corner that had resulted from Capleton diving to turn away Matt Fowler's header. Grays finished the half strongly, though, and Stafford Browne, one of their former Aldershot contingent, headed over before sending another chance just wide, and Palmer also had to head a dangerous cross to safety. The home side lost Jason Broom to injury at half time but replacement Alex Fiddes almost provided the breakthrough, shooting past the post. Sutton replied strongly, though, with Mark Watson's shot saved after Fowler had laid off Darren Beale's cross, and Danny Bolt sending a 25 yard shot just wide. It was a sign of the home team's anxiety that Jeff Woolsey was booked for bringing down Watson in full flight, but they might still have struck the winner seven minutes from the end when Hodges blocked a goal bound shot, and from the corner Dunn made a remarkable close range stop from Owen Coll.

Grays: Capleton, Robinson, Broom(Fiddes H-T), Coll, Woolsey, Collis(McLeod 82), Minton, Stimpson, Browne, Edwards, Thomas(Reinelt 72).subs n/u Keeper, Lunan.
Sutton: Dunn, Beale, Hollands, Palmer, Hodges, Honey, Bolt, Corbett, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves. Subs n/u Bailey, Hanlan, Shannon. Referee: J Lodge Attendance 329

Sutton's youth team, with nine players making their debut, recorded an impressive 3-0 win at Woking in the first game of their defence of the Southern Youth League on Wednesday. One of the new players, Matt Curtis, stole the show with two goals inside the first eight minutes, and a third in the second half.

U's suffered a double setback, however, in Tuesday's Suburban League game at home to Metropolitan Police as Danny Brooker lasted only 26 minutes before suffering a recurrence of the injury that has kept him out of the start of the season. They then allowed the half time lead given to them by Glenn Boosey's fine solo goal to evaporate as Police scored in the last minute to win 2-1 after equalising 15 minutes from the end.