Given time to reflect, Sutton United boss Paul Doswell hailed an excellent performance against Hemel Hempstead.

In a match delayed by an hour due to the officials being stuck on the M4, United were 2-0 ahead and in control thanks to Dan Fitchett’s double.

However, it unravelled when James Potton hauled Hemel back to 2-1 on 77 minutes, and then Ben Herd levelled from a penalty conceded by Kevin Amankwaah.

Simon Downer was then sent off and Jamie Collins collected a yellow card for dissent, and it means Downer, Collins and Bedsente Gomis will all miss the Bath City clash on October 17.

Despite the spectacular ending, which leaves United 11th in the table, Doswell was in upbeat mood.

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He said: “It was one of our best footballing displays, and we are in a really good place at the moment.

“Yes, I was frustrated at the final whistle, but in the cold light of day I have to be happy with the standard of our football.

“For 77 minutes we dominated a very good side with the likes of Jack Smith [former AFC Wimbledon and Millwall] and Dennis Oli [Gillingham], as well as the lad Oliver Hawkins, who everyone is talking about.”

He added: “We were in control, they get a corner which Ross [Worner] punches out and Potton fires back in, not much you can do about that.

“The penalty against Kevin is very soft, and then Simon gets sent off for a challenge from behind that was a yellow card at most.”

The two sides go head to head again on Saturday for a place in the fourth qualifying round of the FA Cup.

Doswell said: “It’s a 50-50 call, the sides are so evenly matched. There is no romance in the cup at this stage for me, that doesn’t start until the first round proper.

“At the moment it is purely financial, but I know if we can maintain the form we are showing right now, we’ll be in a good place.”