Sutton United showed their progress with a comfortable win over a side who had beaten them 3-0 on the opening day of the season, writes Tony Dolbear.

With four players under 20 in the starting line up there was huge encouragement to be gained from as good a performance as they have produced this season.

The result gave Mike Mison a highly satisfactory start as captain following Chris Boothe's departure to Aylesbury on Friday.

An early goal always helps, and with just 34 seconds gone Eddie Akuamoah provided it with a powerful left foot shot.

Braintree had chances during the half, Robbie Reinelt's shot deflected just wide and Paul Rippingale shot past the post after Dave Timothy's only mistake of the afternoon allowed Simpson and Reinelt to attack on the left.

Sutton added two goals in the first four minutes of the second half. First Ryan Palmer blasted in a 20-yard shot after Jon Palmer's presence had set up the shooting opportunity from Akuamoah's deep corner.

Then Rob Haworth scored a third, heading on a high ball to Akuamoah and receiving the return pass before guiding a shot beyond Catley.

To their credit Braintree then had their best spell of the game, and were unlucky when Dean Parratt's 40-yard shot drifted over the stranded Tommy Dunn but clipped the post. They could make no impression, though, and as Sutton finished strongly Paul Honey was unfortunate to see his well executed 20 yard half volley ruled out because Haworth was standing offside.

Timothy was the recipient of a rustic challenge on the edge of the area that earned a yellow card for Simpson, who had got away with a similar offence in the first half.

So perhaps Simpson was lucky to be on the field to grap Braintree's late consolation after Dunn had saved brilliantly from Steve Blaney.

Sutton United 3 Braintree 1

December 19, 2001 13:00