SUTTON UTD 1: CANVEY ISLAND 4

Sutton United's hopes of a morale-boosting victory were shattered on Tuesday night when Ryman League leaders Canvey Island scored four times in the last 18 minutes.

The scoreline was harsh on Sutton, who lost nothing in comparison with the high flying Essex side until the last quarter of the game.

Then a Canvey equaliser was quickly followed by a red card for Dave Timothy, and United disintegrated.

Both teams played some good passing football in the first half and after Chuck Martini had fisted away a fierce shot from Spencer Knight, United more than matched their opponents.

They should have had a penalty but referee Andy Harvey ignored his assistant and waved play on after Rob Haworth's powerful run had been halted by a foul.

Luck

But their luck changed when Paul Honey's 29th minute corner glanced off the head of former West Ham star Julian Dicks and looped into the net.

United might have had another before the break but keeper Ashley Harrison plucked Haworth's header out from under the bar.

Sutton came under pressure early in the second half and were pushed back further, with Eddie Akuamoah, playing at left wing back, given less opportunity to go forward.

Chuck Martini was lucky to see Neil Gregory's header land in his arms while Dicks clipped the bar with a free kick.

At the other end, Haworth's 65th minute shot was tipped past the post by Harrison after Chris Boothe and Matt Fowler had helped on Martini's long clearance.

Sub Lee Boylan's introduction as an extra attacker inspired Canvey.

Boylan shot horribly wide with his first touch, but he made no mistake with 18 minutes left when he shot into the far corner after a neat move.

Two minutes later Timothy, earlier booked for handball, was dismissed after an unwise if scarcely malicious challenge on Knight.

Within five minutes, Haworth got in a good tackle on Boylan but the ball unluckily fell for Wayne Vaughan to run on and score.

Then Vaughan's high cross from the left dropped in to the net behind a rooted Martini to make it 3-1.

Harrison made a brilliant save to deny Boothe a second United goal.

Any hopes of a comeback ended when Martini came out of his area to deal with a Mison back pass, dribbled round two defenders but lost the ball to Adam Miller who crossed for Knight to score.

Sutton: Martini, R Palmer, Arkwright, Mison, Brooker, Honey, Timothy, Boothe, Fowler, Haworth, Akuamoah.

Attendance: 574

November 16, 2001 10:31