Sutton suffered a second defeat of the season in the National League Academy South Division, with Dartford’s victory taking them to the top of a very congested league table, with Sutton in seventh place but only four points behind Dartford and with two games in hand.

The game was off to a lively start with both teams scoring in the first five minutes. Sutton struck first when debutant Kai McKenzie teed up Ronny Ruiz to send a shot in to the corner of the net from just outside the penalty area, but Dartford replied within two minutes when a low cross from the left was turned first time past Kian Eyers.

Sutton came close to restoring their lead as Ned Hepburn sent a 20-yard shot just wide, and then McKenzie and Rashaad Drysdale impeded each other in front of an open goal after a left wing cross had deflected across the six yard box off a defender. Instead it was Dartford who went in at half time with the advantage when a corner from the right was flicked on at the near post and volleyed in at the far post in the last minute of the first half.

Sutton were soon level after the break, Charlie Emery volleying in an Adam Reeves corner from the right, but again Dartford struck back quickly to regain the lead when U’s were penalised for a foul on the edge of the penalty area and the low free kick found the net past the wall.

Sutton responded well, and the Dartford goalkeeper made a superb close range save from Luke Ashburn after Hepburn and Reeves had combined on the left, and the equaliser came with ten minutes to go when, within four minutes of coming on, substitute Jayden Oberotimi attacked on the right to reach the by-line and pulled the ball back for McKenzie, the former AFC Wimbledon forward guiding it just inside the far post.

Yet again, though, Dartford struck within minutes of conceding as this time U’s failed to clear a long throw and a Dartford player was brought down, with the penalty buried in the corner of the net. It was enough to claim the victory, although McKenzie almost had a late chance to equaliser when his touch let him down from a long Reeves pass.

Sutton: K Eyers, R Ruiz, A Reeves, C Emery, D Urpens, L Ashburn, R Drysdale(sub J Oberotimi 76), B Sheargold, K McKenzie, L Ginger(sub N Nzizu 71), N Hepburn. Subs n/u C Lee, G Katana, J Coombes.

The academy side’s next game in the National League Academy South is on Wednesday 10 December at home to Oxford City but before that there is an away EFL Youth Alliance game at Cambridge United on 6 December. The Division F side host Carshalton next Wednesday, 3 December,  – check the website nearer the time for venue and kick off time.

Picture: Edward Dankwa