Date   4th October 2008     Competition   Ryman League Premier Division     Attendance   435     Referee   Lloyd Wood (Dagenham)

Lineup   1 Paul Nicholls     2 Dean Palmer     3 Alan Bray    78 Cunningham 4 Gavin Heeroo     5 Chris Collins     6 Karim El-Salahi     7 Karl Murray     8 Delando Smith   64 Wilde 9 Daniel Webb   66 Hann 10 Billy Dunn     11 Gavin McCallum             12 Jack Smith     14 Matt Hann     15 Adam Wilde     16 Steve McKimm     17 Paul Cunningham

A first half penalty from former Arsenal and Woking midfielder Ian Selley was enough to ensure that for the second successive away game Sutton came out on the wrong end of a single goal scoreline on their first visit to the Bourne Park complex on Saturday. It was a game every bit as uninspiring as the defeat at Billericay eleven days earlier as U’s failed to make the most of their best spell early on and found life increasingly difficult in a strong wind and on a firm pitch that ensured that good football would be at a premium, with a pernickety performance from referee Lloyd Wood only adding to the frustration for the spectators. 

Opting to start with Billy Dunn alongside Daniel Webb, Sutton played the best of their football early on but apart from one scramble when goalkeeper Andy Walker was grateful to hang on to the ball close to the line as Dunn and Gavin McCallum challenged there was little to worry the former Bromley custodian, and it was U’s who had a bigger scare when the ball bounced in off Lloyd Blackman following a goalmouth scramble, only for the assistant to rule out the effort for offside. 

The decisive moment came soon after the half hour mark, as one of a number of free kicks that they were given close to the penalty area was taken quickly by U’s, but Webb’s cross was cleared and a dangerous Maidstone counter attack was only ended by a crude challenge on Seb Schoburgh by Gavin Heeroo, earning a booking and conceding a free kick near the left corner flag. When the kick came in, the ball was flicked on and struck Karl Murray on the arm. Referee Mr Wood answered Maidstone’s claims positively with a decision that, while slightly harsh considering that Murray had little time to react, would be given more often than not, and Selley converted the penalty. Dean Palmer and Alan Bray soon joined Heeroo in the book for heavy challenges, but U’s should have been level before half time when McCallum and Webb combined well to set up Dunn, who turned neatly but crashed a shot against the outside of the post from ten yards. 

With the increasing bleakness of the conditions matching the surroundings of a ground in the middle of a large industrial estate there was little in the second half to liven the spectators, with Dunn having the best of U’s chances in the 66^th minute when he drove a shot wide from close range after Walker could only punch away a Heeroo corner under pressure. The incident was the prelude to a sequence of events that epitomised why the referee, despite the fact that he seemed to get most of his decisions right, will not have received a glowing testament from those watching as he first lectured Walker at length about his complaints that he had been fouled, went to consult one assistant who told him merely that his other assistant was flagging, and then stopped off to have another discussion with Walker before speaking to his assistant on the other side of the ground and finally talking to the personnel on the Sutton bench who had apparently been contravening regulations by standing up in the dugout to try and gain a better view. The delay took about three minutes in all during which time Mr Wood wasn’t far off completing a lap of the ground, and in a game that was scarcely flowing at the best of times it was hardly a surprise that the eventual restart was greeted by a loud and ironic cheer from all round the ground. James Pinnock flashed a volley just wide for Maidstone, and there was also a chance for substitute Craig Thompson when Nathan Paul crossed low, but Thompson failed to put enough power on his shot to trouble Nicholls. Sutton had plenty of the ball, and continued to win free kicks in good positions, but they failed to put the home defence and Walker under serious pressure and Wilde’s late free kick that curled just wide was their last chance to rescue a point.

Maidstone: A Walker, N Paul, S Schoburgh(sub C Thompson 64), B Lewis, I Cox, A Martin, I Selley, J Saunders, J Pinnock, L Blackman, E Bradbrook.  Subs n/u J Wilfort, K Mooney, A Ulph, S Northwood.  Booked: Selley(80-foul).

Gavin McCallum sends this shot over the bar.


Dan Webb attempts a strike from the edge of the box.


Billy Dunn shapes to hit a half volley.


Billy Dunn and Gavin Heeroo combine well down the right flank.