City strike duo Paul Booth and Robbie Simpson shared three goals as the Lilywhites cruised to their fourth straight victory in 2006 in a one-sided game which was every bit as comfortable as the 3-0 scoreline suggests.

Gary Roberts kept faith with the starting eleven who returned from Barrow with a very creditable 2-1 win courtesy of goals from Josh Simpson and Michael Gash, Craig Dobson retaining his place ahead of Greg Lincoln who was cup-tied for the trip to Cumbria.

The 5-0 demolition of Dorchester on August Bank Holiday Monday sent Sutton clear at the top of the division with a maximum fifteen points. However that was their last away win in any competition and a miserable run of one league victory (over Hayes) in their last eleven outings saw them start the evening one place and two points behind City in mid-table. A Peter Fear leveller secured a share of the points against high-flying Havant at Gander Green Lane on Saturday. Visiting boss John Rains drafted weekend substitutes Stewart Castledine and Sean Rivers into the starting line-up with Paul Honey and Steve Douglas making way.

There was no sign of any FA Trophy hangover from the hosts as they took the game to the Surrey side from the off and with only three minutes played an incisive passing move saw Josh Simpson send Craig Dobson clear on the right. The speedy winger whipped in a low cross to Robbie Simpson on the near post, the teenage striker’s turn was too slick for John Scarborough whose mistimed challenge left Mr Fay with no alternative but to point to the penalty spot. Paul Booth stepped forward and fired low to the left of Phil Wilson to give City the ideal start.

The pace of the Lilywhites’ attack continued to expose Sutton’s less than assured rearguard. A decent spell of pressure culminated in Dale Binns getting behind Gary Elliott wide on the right and playing in Mark Molesley who had peeled off the shoulder of the visitors’ central defenders. The former Hayes midfielder flashed a shot across the face of goal which narrowly eluded the onrushing Robbie Simpson.

A hesitant Ryan Palmer then found himself badly exposed by Booth’s strength and speed in the middle of the park. City’s leading scorer seemed destined to net his 20th goal of the season but having drawn Wilson off his line fired into the side netting.

Another slick passing move involving Binns and Josh Simpson saw the ball worked in from wide on the left to Craig Dobson who poked narrowly wide from close range.

Whilst wing-back Matt Gray, the match winner in the corresponding fixture last season, appeared to be the U’s most effective outlet his frustration got the better of him as a promising run ended in a collision with Lee Chaffey and he picked up a yellow card for protesting at the award of a goal kick.

City ended the half as they began it by carving Sutton open with another incisive passing move. Craig Dobson and Craig Pope, who combined together on the right to good effect all night, set Molesley up in a good crossing position. His low centre resulted in a goalmouth scramble, the loose ball landing at the feet of Booth who somehow contrived to smash his effort against the upright from point blank range.

Despite totally dominating proceedings City had only the slenderest of leads to show for their efforts.

John Rains made a tactical change at the interval with Sam Clayton replacing Elliott as the visitors’ switched to a 3-5-2 formation in an attempt to counter City’s midfield supremacy.

Sutton still had no answer to Dobson’s lightening bursts however and in the first meaningful attack of the half Craig Pope freed the former Lewes wide man who raced clear down the right before unleashing a rising drive which Wilson did well to parry away from danger. Sutton countered swiftly and with City caught going forward Luke Cornwall found space between Matt Langston and Lee Chaffey and homed in on goal but the former Fulham striker miscued horribly to send his effort spinning harmlessly wide for a goal kick.
With City dictating the pace of the game they settled into their preferred counter attacking style, containing their opponents before striking with lightening breaks through wide positions. The warning signs were there for the visitors on fifty-three minutes when Binns broke clear, passed inside to Booth who in turn set up (Robbie) Simpson. On this occasion his shot lacked power and Wilson gathered comfortably.

There was to be no such let off the next time the hosts surged forward however. Dobson’s intelligent lay-off sent the over-lapping Craig Pope racing clear. The cultured full back cruised effortlessly through the midfield before sending a perfectly weighted pass into the feet of Robbie Simpson who drilled a low effort under the despairing dive of Wilson who had been left cruelly exposed by his defence.

Cornwall found himself in space on the edge of the City area as defenders backed off and he produced an effort much better than his previous attempt on goal which had Danny Naisbitt scrambling anxiously across his line.

Just after the hour mark Gary Roberts made his first change withdrawing Molesley for Greg Lincoln. The former Chelmsford midfielder was soon in the thick of the action sending Paul Booth clear on goal with his first touch. Noticing Wilson off his line Booth shot early but again could only find the side netting.

Shortly after both sides had made a further change, for City Michael Gash replaced Robbie Simpson, for Sutton Michael Gordon was introduced at the expense of Sean Rivers, the Lilywhites rounded off the evening’s scoring with a third goal.

Sutton were undone by a ball played through the inside right channel. Again Dobson was the architect finding Booth with a lofted pass. Outpacing the defence once more the former Welling hit-man gathered the ball in and advanced on goal. As Wilson rushed off his line Booth fired past him only for his effort to cannon off the inside of the upright, but with the defenders wrong-footed and slow to react Booth followed up his own effort to rifle into the roof of the net from an acute angle. His work complete Gary Roberts immediately withdrew the striker to give Dave Sadler a twenty minute run out.

Sutton should have reduced the arrears within four minutes. Good work from Gray saw him get free down the right and centre for Castledine who found himself unmarked two yards out with Naisbitt stranded on his near post, however the former Wimbledon striker could only prod the ball tamely at the goal enabling the grateful ‘keeper to gather with ease.

Gray tried his luck from a free kick moments later. His effort was well struck but straight at Naisbitt who distributed the ball quickly and accurately to Dobson who again found himself in an incredible amount of space before forcing Wilson into another fine save as the result of a sizzling strike.

City ended the game comfortably in control and substitute Michael Gash came within inches of scoring for the third game in succession when he collected Dobson’s lay off (moments before he was flattened by Peter Fear) and sent in a goal bound drive which Wilson did well to tip over the bar.
The Lilywhites will hope to build on this success at the weekend when Maidenhead are the visitors. A further victory would see the Milton Road club right back amongst the play-off contenders.