Jack Wadham’s second half header was enough to secure a point on the final day of the season, sealing a 1-1 draw against Woking.

Lewis Walker gave Woking an early lead when the Cards broke quickly and forced Jack Sims to deny Josh Osude’s initial effort, but the ball fell into the path of Walker who tapped the ball over the line from a few yards out to send Woking into the interval ahead.

Sutton United enjoyed a dominant spell at the start of the second half though, and drew level when Lewis Simper’s corner was cleared as far as Ashley Nadesan, who kept the chance alive and swung the ball back into the danger zone where Harry Ransom headed goalward, with Wadham popping up at the far post to nod the U’s back into the game, and was enough to seal a point against the Cards.

A draw with Woking sees Sutton end the 2024/25 campaign 12th in the Vanarama National League table, with preparations already starting ahead of the new season according to Head Coach Steve Morison.

Morison made four changes to the side that lost the National League Cup Final last time out, and in search of a swift response, opted to bring captain Tyler French, Alex Woodyard, Dillon De Silva and Eduino Vaz back into the starting XI.

With a place in the top half up for grabs, it was Woking who came out the blocks quickest and saw Sutton’s backline called into action inside the opening minute, with Osude getting in behind and being denied by French.

This would be nothing more than a warning sign though, and the Cards drew first blood moments later when Osude again broke away, first being denied by Sims but he could only parry the ball into the path of Walker, who tapped over the line with the goal gaping.

Nonetheless, Sutton showed a positive response and produced their first chances of proceedings, with Lewis Simper twisting inside and out of the Woking defence before sliding the ball through to Will Davies – who was unveiled as the Supporters’ Club Player of the Season prior to kick-off – who was denied by an intervention from former U Chin Okoli.

This was then followed by a couple of chances from distance as Vaz fired a free kick just wide of the target before Woodyard struck an effort wide via a deflection, either side of a chance at the other end for Sam Ashford who fired wide from close range.

Sutton then saw their best chance of the half so far fall to Nadesan, who forced Ollie Webber into an outstanding fingertip stop to divert his header onto the crossbar and over, with Webber’s opposite number then being called into action moments later to produce a superb save of his own, getting in the way of a Jamie Andrews effort from point blank range.

The U’s continued to push though, with Davies trying his luck from distance and drilling an effort over the crossbar, before Woking had the ball in the net for a second time when a whipped cross from Osude met the head of Ashford who glanced his effort past Sims, but the celebrations in the away end were cut short by the offside flag.

This gave Sutton a lifeline, with Nadesan volleying just wide of the target before De Silva sent a venomous strike from the edge of the box that seemed to cannon off Davies, and was followed by a low effort from Simper that trickled past the far post.

Simper then tried his luck from distance when he attempted to catch Webber off his line, but could only watch as his effort flew just wide.

With the clock ticking towards the interval, Sutton will have wanted to go into the break on level terms and had just enough time for one last opportunity. Vaz sent a pinpoint delivery towards Davies who’s header was denied by Webber, although the assistant’s flag was up anyway, and saw the U’s head into the break one down.

With Sutton looking for a response after the restart, Tunji Akinola had to be alert to produce a crucial last-ditch challenge to prevent the U’s from levelling just moments after the restart, and continued to up the ante with Vaz charging forward and forcing Tariq Hinds into a high clearance to prevent Nadesan from pouncing on the low ball.

De Silva then came close himself, intercepting a misplaced pass before combining with Simper, who returned the favour and teed up the Sri Lanka international who fired just over the crossbar.

Okoli had previously gone close to scoring against his former club when he showed some good strength and nice feet to bulldoze his way through to the Sutton defence and fire a tame effort down the throat of Sims, and Matt Ward had an opportunity of his own a similar position when he combined with Dan Moss down the right flank, with Ward eventually firing over the crossbar.

This preceded Sutton’s first change of the afternoon as Woodyard was replaced by Kain Adom, and this seemed to inject plenty of energy into proceedings, with the on-loan Gateshead man instantly finding space to send a low ball into the danger area.

Sutton did soon take advantage of their newfound dominance though, with Harry Ransom heading Nadesan’s delivery onto Wadham, who nodded in at the far post to level the score.

Morison’s side then came ever so close to taking the lead, with Simper forcing Webber into a strong save, but the Woking goalkeeper could only parry the ball into the path of De Silva who’s rebound hits the post. Davies then received a third bite of the cherry, but saw his effort trickle just wide.

Woking will have been determined to restore their advantage though, and almost made Sutton pay when Osude got in behind and drilled a low effort across the face of goal, shortly before Ward’s effort cannoned off Topallaj.

Double changes in both dugouts were then made in search of a late winner, with Nana Boateng and Hayden Muller being introduced in place of Vaz and De Silva, while Frank Vincent and Inih Effiong entered the fray in place of Ward and Ashford, with Neal Ardley looking to cement Woking’s top half finish.

This was followed by another switch by Morison, with French forced to go off and was replaced by Ryan Jackson, moments before Nadesan headed a deep free Simper free kick over the crossbar.

Six minutes of added time then afforded both sides one last roll of the dice, with Osude breaking away and rounding Sims, with no one able to keep up with the action and meant his low ball across goal was easily cleared.

Sutton then went up the other end with Simper sending a powerful shot that was well saved by Webber at the death, and meant the U’s signed off for the season with a draw.

Sutton United: Sims; French (Jackson 86’), Ransom, Simper, Davies, De Silva (Boateng 80’), Vaz (Muller 80’), Wadham, Nadesan, Woodyard (Adom 61’), Topallaj. Subs n/u Odelusi, Sandat, Kerbey. Booked: De Silva, Wadham, Simper.

Woking: Webber; Moss, Okoli, Andrews, Walker, Hinds, Akinola, Ward (Vincent 79’), Osude, Ashford (Effiong 79’), Lawson (Kelly-Evans 72’). Subs n/u Jones, Sayers. Booked: Moss, Osude, Hinds.

Referee: Zac Kennard-Kettle.

Attendance: 3,270 (687 away)