Sutton United 2 Margate 0

2:24pm Wednesday 14th January 2009

Sutton United moved up to fourth in the Ryman League Premier Division on Tuesday thanks to late goals from Dean Palmer and Gavin McCallum on Tuesday night.

Margate, next to bottom in the table, will be kicking themselves for failing to take something from the game.

But the turning point came with two minutes left when Liam Harwood, the former Carshalton Athletic defender who had an impressive game, was sent off for his second bookable offence.

Referee Carl Brook had been in unforgiving move from the start, brandishing the yellow card 11 times during the event and that made his red card for a barge to stop Craig Dundas’s storming run just outside the box a formality.

He will have barely reached the dressing room before hearing the roars after McAllum’s resulting free kick was headed home from close range by Palmer.

Then McCallum’s persistence was rewarded after a mix-up between Pat Mullin and a defender, who should have dealt with David Hughes’ long ball forward, left the young striker free to roll the ball into the empty net.

For much of the game Sutton, who had not played for more than a fortnight because of the weather, looked sluggish and would have been punished by more clinical opponents.

Their first scare came after eight minutes when Joe Healey broke clear down the left, but miserably fluffed his attempt to chip keeper Paul Nicholls and the ball landed harmlessly in the keeper’s midriff.

Four minutes later, Steve McKimm was the first player to go into the book for tripping Roberto Corbishley after he had been outpaced by the Margate midfielder. It then took a fine save from Nicholls to tip away Ryan Jacobs’ resulting free kick as it threatened to sneak in between the angle of bar and post.

Corbishley then floated a chip too high before Sutton finally made their presence felt in the opposing penalty area.

Hughes' well-timed pass released Matt Hann, who was denied by the oncoming Mullin.

Margate remained the better side, though, and twice in three minutes debutant striker Nathan Bailey might have given them the lead.

Put clear on the right by a quick free kick, he lifted a shot over Nicholls but also over the bar, but he then squandered the best chance of the night when a Nicholls clearance was returned through Sutton back line, leaving him on his own and with just Nicholls to beat, but his finish lacked any conviction and Sutton’s keeper was able to save a shot hit almost straight at him.

With Harwood and Dan Young nullifying much of United’s attacking threat, although both were in the book before half time, it was a frustrating night for the hosts.

Having reshuffled the defence during the first half, manager Paul Doswell wasted little time after the break in changing things up front as well, Hann and Chukki Eribenne making way for Billy Dunn and Gavin McCallum.

By then, Sutton had suffered two more scares as Corbishley's cross from the left rebounded off the post, and in the next attack Nicholls had to tip over a crashing shot from Jackson Ohakam.

Within two minutes of the change, though, Sutton almost went ahead when Steve West headed down Simon Jackson's free kick and Karim El-Salahi reached the ball just before Mullin but could only direct his shot against the outside of the post before colliding painfully with the keeper.

Dunn and McCallum both contributed a lively half hour, Dunn firing in a low cross which was fumbled by Mullin and hacked away by a covering defender, and then seeing a similar cross just evade the stretching Craig Dundas.

The balance of the game shifted as Sutton began to press forward and Margate's threat receded.

Their defence generally frustrated Sutton’s best efforts before they could get close to the penalty area, though, and with United’s back line now similarly in control a goalless draw loomed and the chief interest surrounded the number of times Mr Brook's yellow card came out of his pocket, with several of the offences seeming innocuous.

Then game Dundas’s explosive break and Harwood’s foul which paved the way for Sutton’s victory.

The last victim of referee Brook’s card-fest, in between the two goals, was United’s Gavin Heroo for taking too long over a throw-in, but Sutton were able to celebrate a welcome three points.

Sutton: P Nicholls, S Jackson, C Dundas, S McKimm, K El-Salahi, C Collins(sub G Heeroo 73), D Palmer, D Hughes, C Eribenne(sub B Dunn 57), S West, M Hann(sub G McCallum 57). Subs n/u A Wilde, T Hughes. Goals: Palmer(89), McCallum(90). Booked: McKimm(12-foul), Hann(45-foul), El-Salahi (79-foul), Hughes (81-foul), Heeroo (90-time wasting).

Margate: P Mullin, R Peters (sub M Takaloo 84), J Gregory, L Harwood, D Young, R Corbishley, J Ohakam, W Wilson, N Bailey(sub A Quain 84), J Healy, K Morris Subs n/u S Cliff, L Wheatley, M Beresford. Booked: Young (39-foul), Harwood (43-foul), Corbishley (47-persistent infringement), Bailey(67-foul), Morris(72-foul). Sent Off: Harwood(88-foul-second bookable offence).

Referee: C Brook(St Leonards)

Attendance: 404

United are at home to Horsham in the Ryman League on Saturday and will be able to welcome back Alan Bray, who missed Tuesday's game due to suspension.

They face Horsham at Gander Green Lane again on Tuesday (7.45pm) in the 3rd round of the Isthmian League Cup.

The reserves are away to Burgess Hill on Saturday in the Suburban League.