Four weeks after one of their poorer performances of the season had seen them go down 2-0 at Hitchin, Sutton made amends at Gander Green Lane on Saturday when they deservedly came out on top in an entertaining game of numerous chances. U's confidence, dented a little by their disappointing October, seems to be coming back and two superbly taken goals by Danny Bolt, whose missed penalty had proved a turning point at Top Field, underlined that impression. U's win was all the better for coming after Hitchin had taken an early lead, Carl Drew cutting in from the right after seven minutes and firing a low left foot shot past Andy Pape from the edge of the penalty area. Drew was a constant danger to U's in the first hour, before his growing frustration made him a greater danger to himself, and he might have added a second when he wriggled through and fired in a shot which Pape, captaining Sutton in the absence of the suspended Scott Corbett, thrust out a hand to turn aside. Three minutes after that U's were level as Matt Fowler put Danny Bolt through. Hitchin looked for an offside against the watching Mark Watson, but unlike in the St Albans game this time the flag stayed down even though Watson at one stage made a move towards the pass. Bolt it was, though, who rounded James Robinson and rolled the ball in to the net. The goal inspired U's to a good spell in which Watson combined well with Fowler before sending a diving header just over, and Robinson had to be off his line quickly to deny Matt Gray who had broken through on the right. Hitchin should have gone back in front, however, when U's defence completely lost Drew from Stuart Beevor's chipped pass, but Drew fired horribly wide of a gaping net. It was a finish in marked contrast with what followed three minutes before half time as Bolt produced the highspot of the afternoon. Fowler again was the provider, harassing the Hitchin defence before finding Bolt on the left corner of the penalty area, and Bolt lifted a wonderful chip over Robinson that was never going anywhere other than the far corner of the net. Even then U's might have been pegged back before the break as Drew floated a free kick just wide, and in the second half, while further goals always looked likely, it was never certain at which end they might come although Sutton created more of the openings. Nick Bailey, irrepressible on his return from injury, had a low volley well saved and then ran on to a Bolt pass before firing in a cross that Watson just failed to convert for what would have been a stunning goal, but Drew had another couple of shots blocked before the red mists began to descend and he picked up a booking for an ugly challenge on Paul Honey. Hitchin always looked capable of an equaliser, but Nick Grime had a goalbound header blocked and from the resulting corner, Jon Bone's downward header bounced out off a post. That was as close as they came, and Sutton went in search of the goal that would make the points safe. Fowler, who for the second week running wouldn't have been flattered by at least one, sent a volley just wide and then hit the side netting after a fine run that saw him skip away from two challenges, and Bolt wasted a chance of a hat trick by shooting against Robinson's legs when clear. With six minutes left, though, Bolt's crossfield 40 yard pass found Fowler on the left edge of the penalty area as if guided by radar, and although forced to turn away Fowler laid the ball back for Bailey, who in turn rolled it sideways in to Paul Honey's path. His low 25 yard shot seemed set to test Robinson, but the deflection it took en route gave the keeper no chance and finally ended Hitchin's hopes of a point, their frustration shown as Fontanelle and Beevor picked up yellow cards inside the last four minutes.

Sutton: Pape, Gray, Hollands, Palmer, Brooker, Honey, Bolt, Bailey, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves. Subs n/u Brett, Beale, Hanlan.
Hitchin: Robinson, Childs, Grime(Mills 78), Burke, Ayres, Scott, Drew, Beevor, Bone(Evans 69), Nolan, Rydeheard(Fontanelle 58). Subs n/u McElroy, Frater.
Referee: S Pryor Attendance 487