SUTTON UTD 2 HENDON 1

Sutton will go in to Saturday's clash against title challengers Gravesend in good heart after shrugging off the absence of two key players to beat Hendon on Tuesday. Eddie Akuamoah failed to shake off the back problem that caused his departure on Saturday, and Mike Mison was kept on the bench after picking up a knock at Croydon, but with Dave Timothy returning impressively U's were still strong enough to take a two goal lead at half time and successfully defend it in the second half. It was the visitors who made the brighter start, but U's who went in front after 15 minutes. Scott Corbett was fouled 25 yards out and quite fortunate when his quick free kick, which came to nothing, had to be retaken as it had been from the wrong place. Given time to think about it, Phil Wingfield produced a superb effort that grazed the underside of the bar on its way in with Dave Hook helpless. U's lead could have been shortlived but for a wonderful save by Tommy Dunn,who had another good game and arched backwards to tip over Simon Clarke's dipping 25 yard shot a minute after the goal., but instead they extended it nine minutes before half time when Corbett was wrestled to the ground by Ricci Crace as he went for Wingfield's corner at the far post, and Matt Gray took on penalty duties, sending Hook the wrong way. Hendon came out strongly for the second half, and should quickly have reduced the arrears when Dale Binns headed wide from Paul Yates' cross, and then Steve Forbes lifted the ball over following a free kick. Dunn made another good stop from Crace after U's had twice lost possession on the edge of their own area, and with Eugene Ofori brought on to give Hendon three up front they looked as though they fancied their chances of rescuing the game. As it was Sutton took the initiative again and Matt Fowler missed badly when Wingfield's corner found him unmarked at the far post. Two minutes later, in a real end-to-end moment, Hook saved well from stand-in captain Rob Haworth's header, and when the ball was launched downfield it was Dunn who had to be off his line quickly to deny the pacy Leon Woodruffe. Wingfield clipped the top of the crossbar with another free kick from a much tighter angle, but Sutton still had to survive an anxious last few minutes after Steve Butler headed in a free kick to give Hendon hope.

Sutton: Dunn, R Palmer, Gonsalves, Hammonds, Timothy, Honey, Wingfield, Corbett, Fowler, Haworth, Gray. Subs n/u Howard, Mison, Bailey.

Hendon: Hook, Towler, Clarke, Forbes, Butler, Woolner, Woodruffe, Bates(sub Cooper 59), Crace(Burgess 85), Yates(sub Ofori 66), Binns.

Referee: I Woodward Attendance 438