Sutton's return to action after the recent weather enforced layoff rapidly turned in to a nightmare at Gander Green Lane on Tuesday as they conceded three goals from set pieces in the first 19 minutes and found the task of recovering from that dreadful start beyond them, hope punctured further when more loose defending at a free kick cost them a fourth early in the second half.
The pattern of much of the game was such that, with better finishing and without a superb performance from Ashford's veteran goalkeeper Paul Burgess U's might even have been able to survive their defensive frailties, and with visiting striker Warren Harris putting in a contender for miss of the season in the last minute the game could have ended with one of those scorelines rarely seen, but ultimately U's paid for their inability to repel the set pieces, and particularly the long throws of Guy Hollis.
