Four unanswered Sutton Athletic goals at Tunbridge Wells saw them leapfrog their hosts in the Presence & Co. Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division in an end of season match.

Neither side was at full strength but the visitors were well worth their victory over a team who were playing their fifth home game in a nine day spell.

Centre-back Cameron Reardon twice had half chances for Sutton, first when meeting a deep corner and heading over, then a free kick was knocked down to him and he swivelled but couldn’t keep his shot down.

Emmanuel Oduguwa then fired too high at the near post for the visitors before they went ahead. Alfie Eldridge was brought down in the eighteen yard box and a penalty was awarded. Although George Bentley went the right way, James Bayford’s spot kick had the accuracy and power to find the bottom corner.

Eleven minutes later, the visitors scored again. Bayford’s diagonal pass found Conor Evans and he showed the composure and skill required to fire home.

Eldridge added a third seven minutes before half time when he was sent through and went round Bentley before rolling it home.

Harry Hudson had a header for the hosts that was held by Jack Glassborrow in the Sutton goal in the dying embers of the first half.

Steve Ives made two changes to the Wells team after the break and Jack Gallagher’s shot was blocked into the path of James Ding. He was unable to get any power on his shot and Glassborrow saved easily.

Things went from bad to worse for Tunbridge Wells when James White was sidelined for ten minutes having talked his way into the sin-bin. During that period, Bayford broke through and Bentley made a great save before Evans hit the follow up wide. 

Bayford then timed his run perfectly down the right and was pulled back in the area resulting in another penalty. Bayford went the same way from the spot and Bentley again went the right way. He got a strong left hand on it and looked to have saved it but it squirmed away and rolled over the line. Frustrations boiled over and a bout of shoving followed before one player from each side was cautioned.

White returned to the pitch but Bayford went close to completing his hat-trick when heading over at the far post.

Hudson was unlucky not to pull one back when his shot clattered the crossbar and the Wells knew that it was not to be their day shortly after when a Ding effort from wide beat Glassborrow and also came back out off the woodwork. 

On Saturday, Sutton host Larkfield and Hythe while Tunbridge Wells visit Holmesdale before the players from both clubs can enjoy a well deserved rest.

Tunbridge Wells: Bentley, McArthur-Nolan (Dunmall 82), Alaka, Hudson, Bennett, Allan (White 46), Kamara (Thomson 82), Feasey (Corke 46), Zilli, Ding, Jones (Gallagher 21).

Subs not used: None.

Goalscorers: None

Yellow card: Bentley (69 ungentlemanly conduct) 

Sin bin: (White 59)

Sutton Athletic: Glassbarrow, Mercer, Cousins (Jarvis 79), White, Reardon, Sargent, Eldridge, Oduguwa (Cheeseman 85), Bayford, Huckle, Evans.

Subs not used: Mahal, Powell.

Goalscorers: Bayford pen (19), pen (58), Evans (30), Eldridge (38)

Yellow cards: White (59 ungentlemanly conduct), Evans (90+3 foul)

Referee: Paul Agyei-Tabi

Assistants: Kieron Parott and Julian Cowan

Attendance: TBC