Sutton United clinched the runners-up spot in the Ryman Premier League on Tuesday, avenging their 4-1 home Easter Monday drubbing by Cray Wanderers in the process.

This took their haul from four away games in 12 days to an impressive 10 points, meaning that their play-off semi-final and, if they win that, the final will be held at Gander Green Lane.

It was an evening where both sides finished satisfied, results elsewhere ensuring Cray's survival at the other end of the table.

If there were the slightest signs of United's recent arduous programme during a second half that saw Cray opt for a direct approach to put stand-in goalkeeper Wayne Shaw under pressure.

It had been insured against by a fine first half performance that saw Sutton two ahead at the break, and for all their efforts all Cray could manage in reply was a Colin Luckett penalty.

Shaw, the former Eastleigh keeper now goalkeeping coach at Gander Green Lane, was pressed in to service by the suspension of Kevin Scriven and injury to Paul Smith.

He was involved early on as he had to come outside his penalty area to clear a through ball, and was caught late by Des Boateng, who became the first of the night's six bookings.

Three minutes later United were in front as Danny Phillips' cross was turned behind for a corner by Rob Quinn, and from the resulting corner Francis Quarm volleyed in with the aid of a deflection.

Shaw and his defence coped well with several high balls in to the area, only struggling on one occasion when a cross was headed back across goal and Quinn headed over.

But Sutton, for the most part, seemed well in command and just before the half hour produced the move of the match when a neat flick by Charlie Taylor sent the outstanding Phillips through on the left.

Taylor continued his run to meet the return pass down the line and pulled the ball back in to the path of Steve McKimm, whose first time shot, though well struck, was too close to goalkeeper Jack Smelt, who denied him what would have been a contender for Sutton's goal of the season.

Six minutes before the break, though, United did have their second goal.

Phillips was again involved with a pass through to Sonny Cobbs, who seemed second favourite against Mark Willy but managed to block the defender's attempted clearance, shrug off the challenge and slip the ball past Smelt for his third goal in four games.

In the early stages of the second half United looked set to continue in the same vein and Billy Hawes, an early replacement for the injured Jason Goodliffe, ran on to a square pass from McKimm and beat three defenders before thumping in a shot that, again, was too close to Smelt.

But, as the half went on, Cray spent more time in the Sutton half.

With just over an hour gone Leigh Bremner, the man of the match on Easter Monday and catching the eye again in this game, turned past the returning Steve Perkins on to a long pass and fired in a shot that Shaw saved with his legs.

Referee Harry Lennard ruled that Perkins had impeded Bremner as he shot, though, and pointed to the penalty spot, giving Luckett the chance to add to the two penalties he had converted at Sutton.

Apart from that, though, United coped well with an approach that rarely deviated from route one, with Shaw out to divert one Bremner shot and comfortably fielding a low effort from the same player.

If there was a worry for a while that the ball seemed to be coming back at Sutton as quickly as they cleared it, Cray struggled to create clear chances and towards the end Sutton found space on the break, Taylor heading wide from one left wing cross and substitute Jazz Gold seeing a low cross turned just past his own post by a Cray defender.

Sutton: W Shaw, K El-Salahi, J Hawes, J Goodliffe (sub B Hawes 17), S Perkins, S Cobbs, B Woods-Garness (sub A Joseph 63), F Quarm (sub J Gold 54), C Taylor, D Phillips, S McKimm. Subs n/u S Watts, C Dobson. Goals: Quarm (11), Cobbs (39) Booked: Quarm (44-persistent infringement), B Hawes (80-time wasting), Joseph (88-obstructing Cray free kick).

Cray: J Smelt, A Day, C Luckett, R Quinn, M Willy, J Guest, G Porter, D Boateng, S Aris, L Bremner, J Clark. Subs n/u R Morgan, F Cronin, G Fullone, S Osborn, I Jenkins. Goal; Luckett (61 pen) Booked: Boateng (8-foul), Porter (11-dissent), Quinn (30-dissent).

Referee: H Lennard (Peacehaven)

Att 253