Report by Tony Dolbear

Sutton maintained their hopes of a top three finish in the Ryman League on Tuesday with what, even though it was played out in front of their lowest league crowd of the season, ranks alongside their best results of the season. Made to battle all the way by a good Hayes side, who would have gone above U's had they won, Sutton not only prevailed in the absence of four first team regulars, but thoroughly deserved the points, with Hayes' goal only the result of a momentary aberration by Danny Brooker. The matchwinner was Matt Hanlan, starting a game for the first time since the end of November alongside Matt Gray as injury ruled out both Mark Watson and Matt Fowler, and twice in the right place to pick up the pieces from rebounds. Early on the task facing Sutton was clear as Tom Dunn made a fingertip save from Mark Molesley after only three minutes, and Hayes forced several corners which came to nothing. Jon Case also created a chance for himself, cutting in and shooting past Dunn, but Dean Hamlin, who had a fine game in his first full appearance, was well positioned to clear from inside the six yard box. Sutton's main threat early on came from Danny Bolt, who fired in one superb cross that a stretching Hanlan couldn't quite reach, and then caused trouble with a low free kick which again Hanlan couldn't quite get under control. Hayes had Peter Holsgrove booked for a heavy challenge on Hanlan, while Danny Hodges also saw a yellow card for hauling down Michael Currie, but with two minutes left of an evenly fought half U's went in front. Nick Bailey was put through in space on the right, and although he seemed to have delayed his shot too long he turned inside and threaded a pass to Gray as Hayes appealed for offside. Bertrand Bossu was out quickly to block Gray's shot, but could do nothing as Hanlan followed up to hammer the ball in to the roof of the net. Hayes' equaliser came seven minutes after half time, and was a gift as Kevin Warner's low cross from the left found Brooker losing his bearings and smashing a half volley in to his own net past the startled Dunn. It was a blow that could have knocked U's out of their stride, and they were grateful moments later when Dunn's positioning enabled him to field a dangerous Justin Cochrane shot. Back they came, though, and they were back in front midway through the half as Gray met a Bolt free kick with a prodigious header from the edge of the penalty area that beat Bossu but came down off the crossbar. Fortunately Hanlan was on the spot again, this time scoring with his head. U's almost fashioned a superb third goal when Hanlan sent Bolt down the left and his cross was headed wide from a tight angle by a diving Gray, while apart from a dangerous cross by Molesley that drifted in to the side netting, and a speculative Cochrane shot that took a deflection for a corner, Hayes found it impossible to create anything of note as some excellent ball-winning enabled U's to prevent them getting close to the penalty area.

Sutton: T Dunn, D Brooker, D Hamlin, R Palmer, D Hodges, N Bailey, D Bolt, S Corbett, M Gray, M Hanlan(sub C Brown 85), E Akuamoah. Subs n/u M Dunne, P Honey. Goals: Hanlan(43,67). Booked: Hodges(37-foul), Hamlin(48-kicking the ball away), Bailey(68-foul).

Hayes: B Bossu, J Case, M Molesley, P Collins, A Cooper, Paul Holsgrove, J Cochrane, Peter Holsgrove, D Warner, M Currie(sub G Austin 79), K Warner. Subs n/u S Demetrious, D Julienne, C Andrews. Goal: Brooker(52,own goal). Booked: Peter Holsgrove(8-foul).

Referee: D Phillips Attendance: 393