Date   18 November 2008     Competition   Ryman League Premier Division     Attendance   569     Referee   Irvine Woodward (Seaford)

Lineup   1 Paul Nicholls     2 Simon Jackson     3 Alan Bray     4 Steve West    74 Heeroo 5 Simon Downer   6 Karim El-Salahi     7 David Hughes     8 Steve McKimm    88 Palmer 9 Chukki Eribenne  88 Dunn 10 Craig Dundas     11 Gavin McCallum             12 Billy Dunn     14 Adam Wilde     15 Matt Hann     16 Gavin Heeroo     17 Dean Palmer

The suspicion that Sutton might be developing in to a team capable of challenging for honours in the second half of this season was reinforced on Tuesday when, in front of the biggest crowd to watch a Ryman League game at Gander Green Lane so far this season, they put the brakes on runaway leaders Dover's charge at the top of the table. Since losing by the only goal of the game at Hornchurch on the second Saturday of the season the Kent side had reeled off eleven league wins in a row, opening up a nine point lead over the rest of the division, but a superbly committed and hard-working Sutton performance, deservedly rewarded by Chukki Eribenne's fifth goal in three games since returning from injury, combined with wins for all three of their closest challengers, has made the top of the table look rather more competitive. The result also moved U's in to the top half of the table, just six points outside the playoff positions and with games in hand over all but two of the sides above them, and many more games like this will mark them down as serious contenders.

The absence of skipper Chris Collins, a pillar of strength all season but sidelined by calf and nose injuries, might have been a handicap but manager Paul Doswell secured the services of experienced defender Simon Downer, most recently with Wivenhoe but having also played for Weymouth and Grays, and after a slightly uncertain start which saw him booked after just five minutes he blended well in to a superb back four display that left Paul Nicholls with very few saves to make. The work-rate throughout U's side was phenomenal, though, with Dover rarely allowed time to settle on the ball, and if the game lacked the openness and goalmouth activity of Saturday's win at Dartford it still lacked nothing in terms of competitiveness and tension. 

Dover might have scored within a minute, Jon Wallis finding space in the area for just about the only time all evening and firing in a low cross that Nicholls pushed out against one of his own players, reacting well to prevent the rebound from bouncing back in to the net. Downer's booking for a heavy challenge on Sammy Moore came soon afterwards, but U's recovered from this slightly worrying start and gave Dover few other opportunities to threaten. After twelve minutes Eribenne created space on the edge of the penalty area and flashed in a shot which John Whitehouse turned away for a corner, but the decisive moment came seven minutes later as a fine run by Craig Dundas saw him beat three defenders before going over in the penalty area, but as U's looked for the possibility of a penalty the ball broke to Eribenne who calmly rolled it in to the net. Wallis was booked for a foul on Steve McKimm, and perhaps a little lucky not to suffer further punishment when he scythed down Gavin McCallum soon afterwards, but Sutton might have extended the lead when Steve West found himself in space on the edge of the penalty area but failed to get sufficient height on the ball as he attempted to lob Whitehouse. 

Chances were few and far between in the second half, but with Dover only occasionally getting anywhere near the U's penalty area as they found themselves chased and harried whenever they had the ball, if a second goal was going to come Sutton looked the likelier to get it. Dundas came closest to providing it with a towering header from McCallum's corner, Whitehouse pushing the ball over the bar, and McCallum could also have done better when West headed back a David Hughes free kick, but his shot on the turn was straight at the keeper. 

It said much for U's efforts that Dover's leading scorer Frannie Collin was substituted with more than twenty minutes left, but the experienced Giuliano Grazioli's threat could never be ignored, and after U's had failed to score the second goal that would have settled the game he came within inches of rescuing a point for the leaders two minutes from the end when, after Whitehouse had launched a free kick in to the Sutton penalty area, his excellent shot on the turn flashed just wide with Nicholls beaten. It would have been more than Dover deserved, though, and U's were able to play out the last two minutes to claim a fine three points.

Dover: J Whitehouse, M Fish, S Gore(sub N Bailey 68), D Hill, O Schultz, S Moore(sub S Jones 33), J Wallis, A Pouton, S Welford, F Collin(sub G Grazioli 68), J Hughes. Subs n/u J Keister, L Browning. Booked: Wallis(24-foul).

 
Paul Doswell applauds the home fans after the final whistle.