Sutton held again

3:08pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

Sutton United were held to a 1-1 draw in Tuesday night’s Ryman League encounter with Ramsgate at Gander Green Lane.

For the second game running Sutton created the lion’s share of the chances, but still needed to come from behind to gain even a point.

Dean Palmer’s header midway through the second half ensured that they didn’t end their first home league game under Paul Doswell empty handed, but by then they should have had the game sewn up.

The tone was set in the first ten minutes as two Gavin Heeroo free kicks might have led to goals, Chris Collins heading one just over the bar and Heeroo himself firing too high with the second, and with Palmer having a shot tipped away by Jack Delo and Craig Dundas twice shooting wide Ramsgate were please to reach the midway point of the first half level.

Stuart Vahid sent a free kick just wide on a rare attack from the Kent side, but even then U’s countered quickly with Heeroo just missing the target as he raced on to a long Paul Nicholls clearance.

The visitors’ best spell came either side of half time as Mo Takaloo shot wide, and then in the last minute of the half saw his shot come back off the post, with Jack Smith reacting well to clear the rebound.

The Ramsgate striker wasn’t to be denied, though, and within a minute of the restart he had his second goal in as many games when he headed in a cross from the right.

He might have had another soon after, Nicholls saving well, and U’s reacted by making changes, Chukki Eribenne replacing Dundas and Adam Roberts introduced for Craig Davis ten minutes later.

Two minutes after the second change Gavin McCallum saw a shot saved by Delo, but from Heeroo’s corner Palmer relieved the frustration with a headed equaliser.

The game finished as it had started, Delo denying Eribenne and McCallum, and Roberts twice going close, including a last minute 20 yard effort which flew just over, but U’s couldn’t force the winner as Ramsgate held on for their first point of the season.

Sutton: P Nicholls, S McKimm, J Smith, G Heeroo, C Collins, K El-Salahi, M Hann, C Davis(sub A Roberts 65), G McCallum(sub D Smith 79), C Dundas(sub C Eribenne 54), D Palmer. Sub n/u S West, K George. Goal: Palmer(67).