The conditions appeared to suit Sutton more than County because their approach is more direct and physical but there could be no argument about their first goal inside three minutes.

 

Play was dragged over to the County left defensive flank where Paul Honey made space for himself.  His cross had County chasing shadows and Warren McBean helped the ball along to the unmarked CRAIG TANNER on the left who gave Jacob Giles no chance.  The pitch worked against Sutton on 10 minutes however when Ross Gaynor beat Ian Hillier only for the ball to take a bobble as he was about to shoot and Giles was easily able to save.

 

There were few chances at either end, though County gradually came into the game before an unsavoury incident in the 37th minute which showed have been dealt with much more decisively by referee Rob Whitton.  Tanner was dangerously late with a challenge on Steve Jenkins which left the County full-back writhing in pain but the official, while stopping play and calling on the physio, did not appear concerned with dealing with the offender.  The County players were clearly incensed and a melee started with Hillier and Gaynor facing up to each other.

 

Eventually when play restarted, three yellow cards had been issued - to the perpetrator Tanner, and also to Hillier and Gaynor for their unnecessary involvement.  Firmer officiating would have kept that number down to one.

 

Supporters of both sides were bemused by a decision to award a penalty to County on the stroke of half-time after Alan Bray had made a clean tackle to dispossess Craig Hughes as the County forward advanced towards goal.  Mr Whitton waved away home appeals before JASON BOWEN netted the spot-kick in his inimitable style. 

 

The penalty decision understandably caused home anger but the comment from Sutton press officer Tony Dolbear in Non-League Paper warrants a reply.  Mr Dolbear reports that: “… they had equal grounds for complaint over Bowen’s penalty as he stopped in his run-up and committed goalkeeper Phil Wilson to dive one way before rolling the ball into the opposite corner of the net.” 

 

Sutton made a similar allegation that Bowen’s penalty was illegal when Luke Naughton dived the wrong way in the 3-1 home win at Newport Stadium last October.  Perhaps Sutton keepers should compare notes or, now that custodians have the option to move before the ball is kicked, they believe there should be an extra law change to insist that takers inform the goalkeeper where they intend to place the ball.  The fact is that Bowen is a very good penalty taker, with 10 successful conversions this season and he is an expert in winning the battle of minds with keepers with his great ball skill.

 

The home side did not mount a serious attacking threat throughout the second period except for a shot into the side netting from Tony Quinton on 59 minutes and the physical nature of their game came to the fore.  Matt Gray and Lewis Gonsalves were both shown yellow cards before Bray took Bowen out with a dangerous challenge to follow them into the notebook.  County showed commendable restraint in the circumstances and, while the referee did not have the best of games, the caution count of 5-1 to Sutton reflected the facts.

 

A 73rd Damon Searle free-kick from 25 yards looked to be heading for the top corner before an excellent reaction from Wilson to tip the ball over the bar, but County had to content themselves with a point courtesy of the generous penalty award.

 

Stewart Edwards was called in as a late replacement for skipper John Brough who was a flu victim and he performed very well in the circumstances against difficult opposition, but while no County player could be faulted for effort, this was an occasion when hard graft rather than exciting football won the point.

 

The match was the first watched by Over the Bridge Exile County fan Gary James since his massive stroke last season and thanks are due to Sutton United for their excellent co-operation with the authorities and the OBEs in facilitating his attendance.

 

Line-ups:

Sutton:   Wilson, Palmer, Bray, Scarborough, Gonsalves, Quinton, Gray, Honey, McBean, Gaynor (Henry 70), Tanner.  Subs not used: Blackwell, Alimi, Taiwo, Naughton.

 

County: Giles, Jenkins, Searle, Davies, Edwards, Hillier, Bowen, Collier, Griffin (Alsop 72), Hughes, O’Sullivan (Bassett 86).  Subs not used: Holdsworth, Simpson, Ovendale.

 

Scorers:

Sutton: Tanner (3)

County: Bowen (45+3 pen)

 

Cautions:             

Sutton: Tanner (37), Gaynor (37), Gray (46), Gonsalves (53), Bray (63)

County:  Hillier (37)

 

Man of the Match:

Sutton: Paul Honey

County:  Stewart Edwards

 

Referee: Rob Whitton (Chelmsford)

Assistants: Ronald Albert, Andrew Roberts.

 

Attendance: 685

 

Match Rating: 2/5