Gander Green Lane Tuesday, November 11th, 2008   Isthmian Premier Division Attendance: 414         Sutton United 3-3 Tonbridge Angels
2008 /09

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SUTTON UNITED TONBRIDGE ANGELS 1 Paul Nicholls 1 Lee Worgan 2 Simon Jackson 2 Phil Starkey 3 Alan Bray 3 Lewis Hamilton 4 Gavin Heeroo (sub 55) 4 Tommy Tyne 5 Chris Collins 5 Leon Legge 6 Karim El-Salahi (OG 44) 6 Scott Gooding (32) 7 David Hughes 7 John Westcott (sub 69) 8 Steve McKimm 8 Anthony Storey 9 Chukki Eribenne (26, 71p) 9 Jamie Cade (45) 10 Craig Dundas (68) 10 Ade Olurunda (sub 69) 11 Gavin McCallum 11 Fraser Logan 12 Dean Palmer 12 Michael Phillips 14 Adam Wilde 14 Tim Olurunda (sub 69) 15 Steve West 15 Luke Piscina 16 Matt Hann 16 Carl Rook (sub 69) 17 Billy Dunn (sub 55) Sutton shrugged off the after-effects of Saturday''s FA Cup tie to storm back and claim a point that looked unlikely to be theirs when they conceded three goals in the last thirteen minutes of the first half of Tuesday''s Ryman League game against in form Tonbridge. The visitors would have gone second had they won, and the three goal burst just before the break gave them every chance of achieving that, but a terrific second half display from U''s saw them cancel out the lead with just under twenty minutes to go, and until a late flurry from Tonbridge look the more likely winners. U''s welcomed Chukki Eribenne back from the injury that has kept him out of action for just over two months, while there was a first start for David Hughes, and both will have finished the evening satisfied with their efforts, Eribenne immediately showing his value in front of goal and Hughes catching the eye with a busy and creative performance and several appearances in the penalty area one of which earned the second half penalty from which Eribenne equalised. Also crucial to U''s point, though, was goalkeeper Paul Nicholls, who denied Tonbridge''s Jamie Cade in a one-on-one situation early in the second half which, had it produced a goal, would surely have left U''s with too much to do. Nicholls had already made a similar save after just ten minutes when Cade escaped U''s back line, but the keeper threw up a hand to beat the shot away and after a spell in which the game struggled to get going it was U''s who struck first in the 26th minute as Steve McKimm send Gavin McCallum through on the right and he burst in to the penalty area before squaring the ball past the oncoming Lee Worgan to allow Eribenne to fire in to the empty net. The lead lasted just six minutes, though, as Chris Collins was harshly penalised for a foul, and Fraser Logan''s free kick to the far post was headed in at close range by Scott Gooding. U''s were unfortunate that referee Eric Mackrell, who didn''t have the best of evenings, wasn''t quite as eagle-eyed moments later as Worgan came outside his area to reach a long ball down the Sutton right but was beaten to it by McCallum, whose high cross was met with an Eribenne header that was goalbound until it struck the arm of a covering defender, but U''s penalty appeals were waved away and the visitors went on to take control with a devastating spell just before the interval. First a long throw from Leon Legge was flicked on by Ade Olurunda and Karim El-Salahi was unable to prevent the ball diverting off him in to his own net, and then after another free kick had led to Olurunda''s powerful shot being deflected over for a corner, and although Alan Bray headed the resulting flag kick away the loose ball was seized on by Tommy Tyne, whose low shot through a crowd of players was only parried by Nicholls and Cade, looking as though he had to be offside, snapped up the rebound. Any fears among supporters that the weekend''s exertions were catching up with Sutton were soon allayed, however, as U''s came out on the attack in the second half, Eribenne heading over from a free kick when he might have done better and Hughes'' header from Simon Jackson''s cross forcing Worgan to backpedal and tip the ball over the bar. Tonbridge should have been reduced to ten men when Tyne, already booked, slid in to a challenge on Hughes long after the ball had gone, but even without that Billy Dunn''s early arrival as a substitute for Sutton reinforced the impression of a side that thought the game was still in their grasp. It might all have been in vain but for Nicholls, however, who again stood up and beat away Cade''s shot after a rare slip from Collins had allowed a header through to leave the Tonbridge striker with just Nicholls to beat. It was crucial moment, as within seconds U''s were at the other end and Dundas, who had a magnificent second half on the right of midfield, spotted Hughes'' run in to the area with a superb pass and Worgan had to make a fine reflex save to push Hughes'' shot over the bar. The resulting corner saw the keeper again grateful to tip the ball over from Eribenne''s header, but the pressure eventually told when Dundas found Dunn with a throw-in, came inside to receive a return pass and surprised Worgan with an early shot from the corner of the penalty area that found the net just inside the far post. Boosted by the goal, it took U''s just three minutes to level as more good work by Dundas gave Simon Jackson the chance to cross for the onrushing Hughes, who this time was brought down by Lewis Hamilton with Eribenne making no mistake from the penalty. At that point U''s looked capable of going on to win, and with McCallum pushed up alongside Eribenne and Dunn there was no mistaking the intention, but although there were a few promising moments any further success proved elusive. Indeed it was Tonbridge, penned in their own half for virtually the entire second half, who created a few nervous moments for U''s supporters at the end, although Mr Mackrell''s decision to allow a contested drop ball on the edge of Sutton''s penalty area after he had stopped play for Collins to receive treatment with U''s in possession some 20 yards further out was a contributing factor. Referee Mr Eric Mackrell (Petersfield)