Following the thrilling success against Cambridge City three days previously, struggling Sutton United were always likely to present a completely different sort of challenge to a County side for whom winning football matches is becoming a habit.  Sutton have had a horrid time of it this season with just five points to show from their 11 previous games at the Borough Sports Ground in Gander Green Lane.

Ernie Howe has a tough task to revive a club that appears locked into a downward spiral towards the Isthmian League, and this is sad to see because Sutton are a non-league club who have achieved much in the last 20 years in both the FA Cup and in what is now the Conference Premier League.  Any thought that they would provide easy pickings were soon dispelled as they displayed a strong work ethic and lively performers in front runner Craig Dundas and midfield player Bashiru Alimi.

The Sutton playing surface however leaves much to be desired and the match soon developed into a somewhat fractious encounter with an attention seeking referee.  Carl Berry probably got few decisions wrong, but much of his whistling was unnecessary, and he enjoyed a sense of theatre with some protracted discussions with both players and his assistants.  The heavy handed presence of the law in substantial numbers also contributed to an unsatisfactory afternoon for the purist, as did a few foul mouthed, but squeaky voiced local apprentice hooligans barely into puberty.  In contrast, the Amber Army appeared to behave impeccably and provided most of the atmosphere at this bleak and run down stadium.

Dundas had to be closely monitored by Mark Dodds, who was again keeping Lee Jarman out of the side, and the central defender was probably relieved that the referee did not punish a tug on Dundas inside the area though the Sutton man was probably guilty of an earlier foul also not spotted by Berry.  County were having to work hard to keep Sutton in check and created few opportunities of their own.

A 34th minute effort from Dundas found the side netting though home fans in the stand were briefly under the mistaken impression that it had passed inside Glyn Thompson’s left hand post.  Sutton right back Dean Sammut then became the first name in the notebook for kicking the ball away at a County free-kick, and then, before Damon Searle could restart play, Berry placed himself in centre stage by lecturing Charlie Griffin and home skipper Tom Hughes who had been jostling for position.  Following a further consultation with his assistant, Berry showed both players yellow cards.

The free-kick was headed into the penalty area where Dundas handled and a spot kick was awarded.  Sutton had been upset by the manner of Jason Bowen’s taking of penalties as the former Welsh international scored from the spot in both last season’s games by deploying the technique, now borrowed by Cristiano Ronaldo, of selling the goalkeeper a dummy and then hitting the ball into the opposite corner of the net.  Sutton keeper Phil Wilson threw himself one way well before Bowen calmly fired the ball in the other direction, but so well was the 42nd minute penalty taken that even if Bows had announced his intentions, it is unlikely any keeper would have stood a chance.

Searle became the fourth to receive a card from Berry, apparently for dissent, before time was called on the first half.

County started the second period confidently with Bowen forcing a save from Wilson but though the home forwards were generally well marshalled by a defence in which Searle was dominant, a second goal would have calmed Welsh nerves.  Lee Fowler produced most of the game’s better creative moments, but Griffin and his strike partner Craig Hughes had few chances, though they played their part in a team effort by defending from the front.  Indeed Hughes was next to incur Berry’s wrath by overdoing it with a late challenge on home keeper Wilson.

Tom Hughes forced a straightforward save from Thompson midway through the second period before Jermaine Clarke was introduced in place of the prolific Griffin.  The tall forward has quickly made himself popular with the County fans though Wilson might take a different view as he appeared to suffer anxiety attacks causing him to lose the ball whenever the big man was in the vicinity.

Sutton left-back Alan Bray was booked for a foul on Steve Jenkins to take Berry’s tally to six for the afternoon and ensure he has plenty of Sunday paperwork to complete, while Clarke almost doubled County’s lead with a shot which just cleared the crossbar following more jitters from Wilson, and Dundas forced one final save from the once again exemplary Thompson.

On a day when Havant & Waterlooville showed the nation the quality a Blue Square South Side can produce, Berry closed proceedings on an afternoon which will live in the memory only for the result, though the away fans were not complaining and the County manager expressed his pride in the performance of his team in scarcely giving an industrious Sutton side a chance in front of goal.  The result was, in Beads’ words: “As good as any this season;” and, with 14 points from the last six games, County continue to progress upwardly.

Man of the Match:

Sutton:   Bashiru Alimi (Dangerous forward runs).

County: Damon Searle (A huge influence on the game).

Special Mention: Jason Bowen (Deadly from the penalty spot).