Sutton picked up their first point in this season’s National League Cup after a third 3-3 draw in four games, but it wasn’t enough to keep alive hopes of qualifying for the knockout stages and U’s didn’t even have the consolation of the extra point from the penalty shootout as Brandon Njoku and Mo Dabre, who had combined for the stoppage time equaliser that forced the shootout , both missed as West Ham ended up winning 4-3.

Head Coach Chris Agutter named a strong team, with Noa Boutin replacing the injured David Ogbonna, and Njoku and Will Tizzard for Ashley Nadesan and Jack Taylor the only changes from Saturday’s draw against Hartlepool, and the early stages saw West Ham causing U’s defence problems with some speedy attacks creating several chances in the first fifteen minutes. Ryan Battrum saw a shot deflected in to the side netting, while David Aziaya made a good save from Josh Landers, who was also denied in the penalty area by a superbly judged tackle from Edon Pruti.

After being on the back foot for the first twenty minutes, U’s then went ahead when Aaron Jones, playing in the left wing back position, took advantage as West Ham failed to clear a crossfield pass and crossed to the far post where Boutin, playing on the right, headed powerfully home.

Njoku then sent a shot too high as U’s looked to press home the advantage, but the game turned in a two minute spell as Emeka Adiele levelled with a low shot from the corner of the penalty area after Battrum had won possession in midfield. Before the restart the injured Tyron Akpata was replaced by Gabriel Caliste, and the substitute immediately made an impact after another good forward run by Battrum had put him in on the right, and although he could have gone for goal himself he unselfishly set up Adiele for a simple finish.

Sutton had to make a change themselves just before the break, Pruti injured in a clash of heads and replaced by Taylor, and for much of the second half there was little to suggest the excitement that was to come in the last five minutes. Sutton failed to make much impression on the Hammers’ defence, and the closest to a goal was when Adiele’s outstanding run from inside his own half saw him denied his hat trick by Azaiya, and Preston Fearon’s follow up effort was cleared off the line by Harry Phipps.

The game came to life with five minutes to go when Boutin crossed deep from the right, substotute Junior Eccleston headed powerfully back across goal and Jayden Harris turned the ball past Krisztian Hegyi in the West Ham goal. West Ham immediately went to the other end, Tizzard fouled Jethro Medine, and Josh Ajala, who had scored one of West Ham’s goals in the meeting between the sides last season, converted the penalty. It wasn’t the winner, though, as with the game entering six minutes of stoppage time Dabre charged down a clearance and raced clear on the left before squaring to Njoku, who from close range ensured that a 3-3 scoreline was back on the big screen.

Njoku wasn’t as accurate from the penalty spot, sending Sutton’s second effort wide after Harris had successfully taken the first. Hayden Muller and Charlie Bell, the latter having missed in last week’s FA Youth Cup shootout, both scored but Dabre’s spot kick was saved by Hegyi. With all four of West Ham’s penalties finding the net, although Battrum may have been fortunate not to have been pulled up for a double touch after slipping as he took his, their fifth was not required as they moved to within a point of a qualifying place, with a game in hand over the sides above them.

Sutton: D Aziaya, N Boutin, A Jones(sub J Eccleston 77), W Tizzard, H Phipps, E Pruti(sub J Taylor 45+1), J Wadham(sub M Dabre 57), L Simper(sub C Bell 77), B Njoku, H Muller, J Harris. Subs n/u L Vincent, B Sheargold, K Eyers. Booked: Harris, Simper.

West Ham: K Hegyi, R Battrum, R Oyebade, P Fearon, A Golambeckis, E Mayers, T Akpata(sub G Caliste 36), M Kante, J Landers(sub J Ajala 69), E Adiele, L Brown(sub J Medine 69). Subs n/u J Briggs, T Wooster, E Sowunmi, R Hargan. Booked: Golambeckis, Kante.

Referee: Paul Howard

Attendance: 633

Photo Credit: Paul Loughlin