SOUTH: Bognor 0 Sutton 1
Bognor Regis Town 0
Sutton United 1 - Arkali (63)
Continuing the trend for their best performances this season to come on their travels, Sutton followed up their win at Newport and battling draw at Dorchester with a fine win at Nyewood Lane, negating the second most prolific attack in the Nationwide South.
United held out even after Joff Vansittart, returning from injury as an emergency centre back, had been sent off for a professional foul 12 minutes from time, preserving the lead gained by Evren Arkali's first goal for Sutton midway through the second half.
With Paul Honey failing to recover from the foot injury sustained at Dorchester, and Tony Quinton sidelined by a bad back, U's had to reshuffle their line-up, with Scott Corbett pushed in to midfield and Vansittart's aerial ability put to good use at the back alongside Stuart Booth and Lewis Gonsalves. Bognor, though, had to reorganise soon after the kick off with defender Chris Breach forced off with less than ten minutes gone following a collision with Craig Watkins that forced the U's striker to play the rest of the game with a bandaged head.
Both sides played neat football at a good pace during a lively first half, and after an early scare when a cross passed dangerously across their six-yard box it was Sutton who carried the greater threat. Matt Gray fired a shot across the face of goal, and home goalkeeper Will Packham, on loan from Worthing as cover for the injured Craig Stoner, made a good save at his near post when Vansittart met a Gray corner with a firm glancing header. The keeper's hands were also stung by a 25-yard volley from Watkins just before half time, while Bognor, who had scored six against Welling on Saturday, failed to test Phil Wilson as Jamie Howell put their clearest chance high over the bar.
The home side weren't helped by the need for a second substitution as Simon Clayton, who had replaced Breach, limped off after a heavy challenge which saw Peter Fear booked, but they carried more threat early in the second half with David Piper particularly lively on the right. U's defence stood up well to the test, though, and the crucial breakthrough came in the 63rd minute as a free kick was headed out as far as Arkali on the edge of the penalty area. His left foot volley took a slight deflection on its way to the corner of the net low to Packham's left.
Bognor stepped up the pressure and when a low cross was pulled back from the right, Wilson made a good save from Matty Russell's close range shot. Moments later Daniel Beck blazed the ball high and wide from an angle after the ball had fallen to him inside the six-yard box. But U's continued to give probably their best defensive performance so far and the pace and enterprise of Gray, Watkins and the impressive Eddie Akuamoah always gave them a threat on the break.
Mainly, though, it was Bognor looking for an equaliser, and with twelve minutes left a long clearance from Packham carried through to Luke Nightingale, who was left with a clear run on goal until brought down by the pursuing Vansittart just outside the penalty area. A red card was inevitable, but Wilson ensured no further punishment ensued by beating away Beck's free kick.
Scott Corbett moved to the back and substitute Kunle Olusesi was left to fight a lone battle upfront for the last ten minutes, which were played mainly in the Sutton half, but after their goalfest on Saturday Bognor had lost their touch and Ben Watson put an unmarked header wide. Beck tried his luck with a run and shot from 25 yards that flew just wide of Wilson's left hand post, but U's hung on, again encouraged by superb away support in the crowd of 465, and will hope that they can begin to find this form at Gander Green Lane.
Bognor: W Packham, D Piper, J Rowland, D Birmingham (sub B Singh 72), C Breach (sub S Clayton 8)(sub M Russell 24), K Murphy, B Watson, J Howell, D Beck, L Nightingale, G Rutherford.
Booked: Rowland (38 - foul).
Sutton: P Wilson, M Gray, E Akuamoah, E Arkali, S Booth, S Corbett, P Fear (sub N Brake 60), J Vansittart, C Watkins (sub K Olusesi 82), A Martin, L Gonsalves. Subs n/u G Boosey, N Ajoge.
Booked: Fear(24 - foul), Corbett(55 - foul), Martin (75 - persistent infringement).
Sent Off: Vansittart(78 - professional foul).
Referee: B McLaren
Attendance: 465
Next match
Sutton return to Gander Green Lane still looking for their first home win of the season on Saturday when they entertain Redbridge(kick off 3pm). Since the visitors were promoted as Ford United two seasons ago the four games between the sides have produced 23 goals, with U's losing the corresponding fixture last season 2-3. Next Tuesday U's will look to become the first team since Hendon on 27 March 2003 to win a league game at Grays(kick off 7.45pm). The Essex side are the only remaining unbeaten side in Nationwide South this season, and led the table for 24 hours following Monday's win at Carshalton until Hornchurch regained top spot with their Tuesday night win at Cambridge City.
Joff Vansittart's sending off on Tuesday means that he will miss Sutton's FA Cup 2nd qualifying round tie on 2 October-the ruling that applies in the higher levels of the game where dismissed players miss the next game does not apply at Nationwide South level, and suspensions begin 14 days after the offence. U's will find out their opponents in the FA Cup on Monday.
