report by Tony Dolbear

Sutton bounced back in some style from Saturday's setback to pick up a convincing Bank Holiday victory and enable themselves to look back on a highly satisfactory return from their first four games. It took a while for the breakthrough to come, but when it did just after the hour mark it paved the way for an exciting finish to the game for U's fans as they finished with three cracking goals and a third clean sheet out of four. The first half was scrappy and although Sutton had the better of things in terms of possession they had little to show for it. Tom Dunn had been the goalkeeper called in to most serious action, diving forward to hold a shot from Michael Currie, while veteran Harrow keeper Andy Pape had only a couple of scrambles to worry about. He might have been tested by a fierce shot from Mike Hollands had a defender not blocked the effort first, and should have been tested by Mark Watson six minutes before half time when he headed over from Danny Bolt's free kick. U's ended the half with a succession of corners and free kicks which came to nothing, and as they struggled to break down the visitors' defence after the break there was a hint that frustration might begin to take hold. Then, with an hour gone, they struck in a fashion for which the phrase 'route one' could have been created. Dunn launched a clearance downfield, Watson headed the ball on in to the path of Matt Fowler and as Pape came out he drilled the ball confidently home for his second goal of the weekend. Soon after he could have had another when a glorious pass from Bolt picked him out on the right edge of the penalty area, but this time Pape beat down his fierce shot. Harrow were struggling to keep control, though, and Phil Gridelet was lucky only to be booked for catching Fowler in the face as they waited for another Dunn clearance to drop. Bolt's unusually mis-hit free kick spared him further punishment, but moments later another foul on Sutton's left proved more costly as Scott Corbett's inswinging free kick was glanced in at the near post by Danny Hodges. Gridelet was immediately substituted, but U's now had a firm grip on proceedings and with eleven minutes left underlined their growing confidence in thrilling style. Bolt's exquisite reverse pass in from the left was placed to perfection to meet Watson's run, and Watson ensured it was done full justice with an emphatic volley that flew past Pape. There might have been more, with Corbett's shot deflected for a corner and Bolt's low cross scrambled away from the near post, and although U's excellent defence was threatened by Currie's late low shot that went just wide this was ultimately a comprehensive and encouraging victory. Sutton: Dunn, Beale, Hollands, Palmer, Hodges, Honey, Bolt, Corbett, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves. Subs n/u Gray, Hanlan, Bailey. Harrow: Pape, Norman, Jones(Valenti 65), Clarke, Gridelet(Lawford 70), Marney, Walters(Everitt H-T), Haule, Currie, Goddard, Hackett. Subs n/u Torto, Karamoko. Referee: S Gagen Attendance 491