Sutton United 3 Kingstonian 3

Sutton surrendered a two-goal lead and with it their Ryman League title hopes in a tense, exciting encounter that lived up to expectations between the sides that at the start play were first and second in the table.

 Azeez Akinbolu returned in place of David Everitt from the side that won so convincingly at Carshalton on Monday and with a substitutes bench of Mark Watson, John Ugbah and David Everitt manager John Rains was possibly picking from his strongest possible line up of the season when you think that Paul Clark, Clive Gartell, Dominic Feltham and Matt Hanlan were not even in the fourteen.

 In an exciting opening David Leworthy had a fierce drive saved in the first minute for the visitors and Junior Haynes missed a good opportunity for Sutton when he combined well with Nassim Akrour to be put through one on one with the keeper but Jerome John closed him down and saved with his legs. Joe Francis had another opportunity for Kingston but he blasted over from a back heel by David Leworthy. But finally after fifteen minutes Sutton took the lead. Jimmy Dack played a ball inside the full back for Andy Salako who's cross caused panic in the Kingston defence the ball eventually looping up to the far post where Joff Vansittart stabbed the ball home from virtually on the goal line.

 Gwynne Berry was booked for dissent after twenty minutes and Les Cleevely made a good save from the resulting free kick and as the atmosphere began to build Eddie Akuamoah was also booked for a late tackle on Danny Brooker. Right on half time Andy Salako nearly put Sutton two up, a Kingston corner was cleared to him midway inside the Sutton half and he outstripped Geoff Pitcher and hit a fierce shot from the edge of the box which was brilliantly saved by Jerome John but the referee for some reason gave a goal kick. More importantly back in the penalty area Joff Vansittart was laying prostrate from the original corner and he got to his feet very shakily and had to be replaced at half time.

 Kingston came out strongly in the second half and equalised within four minutes of the restart. David Leworthy volleying the ball home from six yards after a ball had been played in from the left by Joe Francis. Any thoughts that this would be the beginning of a revival were dashed with ten minutes. Mark Watson flicked the ball over an advancing defence for Nassim Akrour to volley home from ten yards and three minutes later the roles were reversed as Akrour headed down for Watson to turn and fire an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net via the underside of the crossbar to put Sutton three-one in front.

 Kingston were always a threat at set pieces and without the presence of Joff Vansittart to mark him Terry Evans the giant Kingston centre back began to cause problems in Sutton's box. It was he who headed down for Eddie Akuamoah to fire home from a corner after seventy-one minutes and ten minutes later Evans scored himself after a free kick was awarded ten yards outside Sutton's box.

 Jimmy Dack who had been struggling with an injury was replaced by David Everitt and Kevin Rattray replaced Scott Corbett for the visitors but although both sides tried hard the winner would not come.

 So Kingston have reduced their rivals now to one although Boreham Wood closed the gap at the top after a battling one nil win at Dulwich with a goal two minutes from time.

 The Sutton line up was:

Les Cleevely, Danny Brooker, Azeez Akinbolu, Gwynne Berry, Barry Laker, Jimmy Dack, Steve Watson, Andy Salako, Nassim Akrour, Joff Vansittart and Junior Haynes

 Mark Watson replaced Joff Vansittart

David Everitt replaced Jimmy Dack

John Ugbah replaced Junior Haynes

 Sutton now look forward to a tough battle away at fast improving Basingstoke Town next Saturday kick off 3pm.

 The Guardian Insurance Cup final against Oxford City has been confirmed and will take place at Harrow Borough on Tuesday 5^th May kick off 7.30pm.