Sutton slow start proved costly in Saturday's derby even though Kingstonian had two players sent off.

After just nine minutes, Tim Sills was allowed a free run to head Max Hustwick's free-kick past Jamie Ribolla.

Ten minutes after that Sills' volley from a low right wing corner somehow found its way through a crowd of players and ended up in the net.

Sutton then woke up and within eight minutes the

arrears had been reduced.

Mark Watson was fouled by Peter Barnsby 20 yards out, and Danny Bolt's low free kick squirmed through Lance Key's grasp in to the far corner.

From that point there was only one team in the rest of the first half, with Watson foiled by Key after a good link with Bolt and Nick Bailey volleying just wide from 20 yards after a Bolt free kick had been cleared.

All this action was preceded by a spectacular wrestling pile-up involving the majority of the players on the pitch after Barnsby had again fouled Watson.

When order was restored

referee Chris Salt contented himself with yellow cards for Barnsby and Watson, and then bizarrely for Bolt when he complained about the wall being too close.

Before half-time, Sills and Darren Beale were also in the book for reckless challenges.

Early in the second half Kingstonian might have had a third goal, and Sills a hat trick, when he exchanged passes with Phil Wingfield but Ribolla stood up well to keep out his shot.

Until then, the tensions of the closing stages of the first half had not resurfaced, but then Sills challenged Beale for a high ball in a fashion dangerous enough for Mr Salt to show him a second yellow card and reduce Ks to ten men.

Ks' desperation to hang on led to a booking for James Pinnock for the time he took over taking a corner, but worse followed for the home team when he finally took it as Ribolla, who had a good game, claimed a fine catch before being flattened by Barnsby's challenge for which the Kingstonian man was given his marching orders.

Despite having a numerical advantage, Us couldn't punish the home side's indiscipline and Ks held on for victory.

Sutton: Ribolla, Beale (Corbett 83), Hollands, Palmer, Akuamoah, Bailey, Bolt, Honey, Fowler, Watson, Gonsalves.

Attendance: 902

January 31, 2003 12:30