Tuesday 24 November – Suburban League

SUTTON UTD 4 METROPOLITAN POLICE 4

Despite twice holding a two goal lead, Sutton had to settle for a point on Tuesday as Metropolitan Police fought back both times, but the evening was a personal success for Andre Costa, the recently signed winger who scored a hat trick to follow his two goals against Beaconsfield on Saturday. His first came after just nine minutes and was a delightfully curled shot from the left edge of the penalty area, and for much of the rest of the half U’s were in control, with Jerson Dos Santos and Daniel Harding having shots saved and a Dos Santos effort being scrambled away, and just before half time Costa scored again with a firm header from a Dos Santos cross. Early in the second half, though, Chris Beard diverted a corner in to his own net, and nine minutes later an incisive move led to an equaliser, but it took U’s only three minutes to regain the lead as Harding burst through on the left and exploited a gap between the keeper and his near post to score a fine solo goal, and when Costa completed his hat trick with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area it seemed as though the points were safe, but within a minute a cross from the right evaded U’s defence and ended up in the net. Nick Taylor had to keep out a long range shot, and after Harding had had a shot cleared off the line Met Police grabbed a point two minutes from time after U’s failed to clear a cross.

Sutton: Nick Taylor, Michael Hunte, Stuart Young, Chris Beard, John Cartledge, Elliot Mitchell(sub Tony Cuff 61), Jazz Gold, (Harry Ottaway 75), Tommy Kavanagh, Daniel Harding, Jerson Dos Santos, Andre Costa(sub Daniel Gurney 85). Subs n/u Jack Mesure, Stefan Joseph. Goals: Costa (9,43,72), Harding(62). Booked: Cuff(89-dissent).