Harrow Borough 1

In front of 566 spectators Sutton showed great character to come from behind to win a crucial encounter with fellow title chasers Harrow Borough at Gander Green Lane and with Dagenham and Redbridge on FA Cup duty the gap has closed at the top of the table.

Sutton were without Steve Watson, injured last Saturday, at Chesham and Barry Laker and James Virgo came into the side in place of Dave Everitt and Dave Pattullo.

The first chance of the game came on 10 minutes when from a good through ball put Andy Salako clear on the right and he cut the ball back but Matt Hanlan's shot was blocked by a defender. Les Cleevely made a sharp save from Harrow's leading scorer Mark Xavier after thirteen minutes but five minutes later could do nothing when left badly exposed by a static defence and the same player put the visitor's ahead with a header from the edge of the six yard box.

Sutton, lacking in confidence after recent performances were really struggling to put anything worthwhile together and apart from a Vansittart header had very little to show in a poor first half performance.

The second half opened much brighter with Joff Vansittart, who had just been booked, seeing a header just go past the post and then the best passing move of the game saw Sutton draw level. Player of the month, Jimmy Dack and Andy Salako were both involved, the ball eventually being played across the edge of the Harrow box where James Virgo struck a sweet left foot shot right into the corner.

The scene was set for Sutton to produce a rousing finale to the game and they didn't disappoint the crowd.

Andy Salako put a shot just over the bar from a knockdown by Paul Clark who was booked shortly afterwards for clumsy challenge just outside the Sutton box. Six minutes to go and Matt Hanlan got free on the left and his chip went over the advancing keeper and smashed against the bar and just two minutes later Joff Vansittart returned a dreadful clearance by David Hook in the Harrow goal but his shot hit the upright and Andy Salako following up missed the rebound. Matt Hanlan missed a glorious chance just a minute later and Sutton probably thought it wasn't there day.

However it wasn't finished yet and as the game went into injury time Sutton got their winner. It was Hanlan again chasing a lost cause who stopped the ball going out near the corner flag and returned it via John Ugbah to Jimmy Dack who beat a player on the edge of the box and drilled his shot into the corner. The relief on the player's faces was plain to see and they saw the game through without any further alarms to record there first league victory since 28^th October at Oxford.

The Sutton side was:

Les Cleevely, Gwynne Berry, Paul Clark, Barry Laker, James Virgo, Danny Brooker, Jimmy Dack, John Ugbah, Andy Salako, Matt Hanlan and Joff Vansittart

Sean Daly, David Everitt and Gavin Geddes were the unused subs.

The next fixture is in the Surrey Senior Cup at home to Ash United on Tuesday night Kick off 7.30pm

They are then at home to Aylesbury United on Saturday next in a Ryman League fixture kick off 3pm.