GRAVESEND & N 3 SUTTON UTD 1

Report by Tony Dolbear

Competitive until half time, and slightly unlucky to go in at the break 2-1 down, Sutton failed to recover from conceding a goal early in the second half and dropped away disappointingly from then on. A trip to Gravesend is a tough proposition for any club at the moment as this win, their seventh straight victory and their sixth on the spin in the league, put them four points clear at the top of the Ryman League table, and for the first 45 minutes Sutton, also with an improved run of results behind them, gave as good as they got and were only prevented from half time parity by the width of the crossbar struck by Ryan Palmer just before the break. Needing a good start to dampen the confidence that Gravesend inevitably possess at present Sutton had just the opposite as Paul Booth's looping header had the Kent side ahead after just four minutes, but U's recovered well and had cancelled the goal out before a quarter of an hour had passed. Paul Honey, recalled to the starting line-up when Scott Corbett reported a recurrence of his groin injury, sent over a deep corner which was stabbed goalwards by Ryan Palmer and when Adrian Blake failed to gather it cleanly Chris Boothe swept the loose ball in. At this stage, with both Palmers able to get forward on the flanks and Dave Timothy's darting runs causing trouble, U's had real hopes of a result to continue their recent good run, but then a long ball over the top sent Che Stadhart away to outpace Gwynne Berry and fire past Chuck Martini. U's goalkeeper made a good stop from a Booth effort, but Sutton were desperately unlucky not to equalise when Ryan Palmer's superb shot on the turn was touched on to the crossbar by Blake. Instead of equality U's found themselves two down within seven minutes of the second half starting as for the second time the contrast in pace between the home attack and Sutton's defence, which lacked the suspended Michael Mison, was crucial, Booth beating Berry to a ball played in from the right and thumping a low shot in to the net. For about ten minutes Sutton were at full stretch to avoid further damage, and with the wing backs, particularly Jon Palmer, unable to get forward as they had before the break, and Timothy and Sam Keevill fading, they rarely suggested that they would rescue the situation. Rob Haworth did get his head to one ball that was bouncing around the penalty area but only directed it at Blake, but otherwise there was little pressure on the home goal and a change to the scoreline looked likelier at the other end. Stadhart sent one fierce shot at Martini, and substitute Liam Hatch missed two opportunities but they never looked likely to be crucial.

Gravesend: Blake, Sewell(McKimm 73), Martin, Lye, Barnett, Duku, Smith, Owen, Booth( Hatch 78), Stadhart, Jackson. Sub n/u Skinner.

Sutton: Martini, R Palmer, J Palmer, Berry, Arkwright(Murray 68), Honey, Timothy, Boothe, Haworth, Keevill, Akuamoah. Sub n/u Panter.

Referee: N Kinseley Attendance 582

Without a game on Saturday, U's face Aldershot twice in the space of five days next week. On Tuesday they entertain 'Shots' in a Ryman League game(k.o.7.30pm), and the following Saturday visit the Recreation Ground in the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Cup after a goal by ex-U Scott Forrester gave Aldershot a 1-0 win in their 2nd qualifying round replay on Tuesday. Michael Mison is available again after missing Tuesday's game at Gravesend through suspension having accumulated five bookings.

MET POLICE RES 2 SUTTON UTD RES 3

Seemingly up against it against a Met Police side containing several members of their first team, who had no game, Sutton grabbed a thrilling Suburban League victory at Imber Court on Saturday through Danny Hastick's header deep in to injury time immediately after Met Police had levelled. Apart from two Martin Dunne efforts Sutton found it hard going in the first half and trailed to a 22nd minute header, but early in then second half Hastick took advantage of some poor defending to equalise and the introduction of fresh legs from the substitutes' bench then proved decisive. One of the new arrivals, Nick Bailey, gave U's the lead when more pressure by Hastick led to a short back pass, and Michael Johnson's corner was then cleared off the line. It seemed as though U's would have to settle for a point when Met Police equalised with another header in stoppage time, but there was still time for U's to force another corner and this time Johnson's flag-kick was headed powerfully in by Hastick.

Sutton: Smith, Moger, Dray, Dunne, Gonsalves, Howard, Stevens(Drew), Heuston(Bailey), Hastick, Morris(Tydeman), Johnson.

SUTTON UTD 0 KINGSTONIAN 0

Neither side could break the deadlock in Tuesday's Suburban League clash at Gander Green Lane, qith Sutton shading the first half but Kingstonian, who included former Sutton favourite Sammy Winston in their line-up, marginally the better after the break. Michael Johnson had a 37th minute 'goal' ruled out for offside while Leon Morris was denied by a goalline clearance, while in the second half Dante Alighieri had to produce one superbly judged tackle to avert danger and Winston sent one shot wide. Right at the end U's could have snatched victory but substitute Chad Heuston headed Johnson's cross at the keeper. Continued

Sutton: Dunn, Howard, Alighieri, Dunne, Gonsalves, Taylor, Moger(Sigrist), Smith, Dray, Morris(Heuston), Johnson.

Sutton gave a second half debut to Barry Sigrist, a former Stevenage YTS player.

This Saturday U's reserves are away to Corinthian Casuals in a Suburban League game that kicks off at 12.30pm to enable spectators to watch the England v Greece World Cup game.

Meanwhile U's will begin their defence of the Suburban League Cup on Satyrday week when they visit Brook House in the second round having had a first round bye.

SUTTON UTD YTH 3 WOKING 0

Sutton's youth side cruised to a comfortable win in this Southern Youth League clash last Wednesday. Nick Bailey set them on the way after just three minutes with a superb 25 yard shot after a run from midfield, and U's had several chances to extend the lead before the break. Aaron Gilbert hit the bar just after half time, but then Charlie Imms brought an end to a brief Woking spell of pressure with an excellent individual goal, and although an injury to Luke Fontana meant that U's finished with ten men having used all three substitutes, they were still able to add a third when one of the replacements, Kenny Gundkach, went through to score in the last minute.

Sutton; Smith, Broad, Hewitt, Fontana, Drew, Skeete(Bridgeman), Bailey, Tydeman(Burridge), Gilbert, Imms, Boosey(Gundlach).

After visiting Welling in the 3rd qualifying round of the FA Youth Cup on Wednesday, Sutton are also in cup action next Wednesday when they entertain Banstead in the first round of the Southern Youth League Cup(k.o.7.30pm).