KINGSTONIAN 1 SUTTON UTD 0

A goal near the end of a scrappy game ensured that Sutton’s pre-season friendly schedule ended disappointingly at Kingsmeadow on Saturday. U’s failed to recapture the form that they had showed in some of the previous games, and were denied even the consolation of a draw when substitute Phil Williams beat debutant goalkeeper Grant Porter with six minutes left. Porter, who was with Salisbury last season, was deputising for Paul Nicholls, resting a slight injury, and after watching an early long range shot from Dean Lodge fly harmlessly over the bar he had little to do in a first half which contained little to brighten a gloomy afternoon. Dean Palmer had a header scrambled away following a long throw from Craig Davis, and Davis himself headed over a Matt Hann cross when well placed. Hann also drove a shot across goal after a strong run by Craig Dundas and a lay-off from Chuki Eribenne. As in previous friendlies U’s made a number of changes early in the second half and one of the new arrivals, Adam Roberts, set up Hann for another chance with a through ball which Hann dragged wide, but apart from a Karim El-Salahi header from a Hann corner that was cleared by the home defence it was Kingstonian who began to create the chances, with Ryan Gray, one of three former Sutton players in the K’s line-up along with Neil Lampton and substitute goalkeeper Luke Naughton, firing a free kick across goal that El-Salahi did well to avoid turning in to his own net. Julian Thompson just failed to make contact with a Lodge cross from the left, but six minutes from the end Kingstonian did make the breakthrough when substitute Jermaine McGlashan crossed and Williams controlled the ball before beating Porter U’s had a late opportunity to level when West met Kevin George’s cross with a firm header, but Naughton leapt to his left to make an athletic save.

Sutton: G Porter, A Bray(sub S Stannard 77), J Smith, S McKimm(sub B Graham 64), D Palmer(sub K George H-T), K El-Salahi, M Hann, C Davis, C Eribenne(sub A Roberts 53), C Dundas(sub S West H-T), A Wilde(sub D Smith 53).

Craig Dundas beats former U Neil Lampton to a header.


As the rain comes down, Dean Palmer chases after the ball.


Gavin Porter claims a cross.


Under pressure from a defender, Delando Smith sends in a cross.