Sutton Coldfield come back to take a point

Slough Town lost more ground at the top of the league after visitors Sutton Coldfield, also in the hunt for a play-off spot, came back strongly in the second half to gain a 2-2 draw.

The Rebels had been two goals ahead at half time thanks to goals from Sean Sonner and Elliot Buchanan, but were made to pay for numerous missed chances after the break as the visitors came back into the game well, in a carbon copy of the opening day of the season.

After Sutton ‘keeper Steve Jackson fisted away an early corner, Yiadom Yeboah teed up Elliot Buchanan for a chance, but the Rebels top scorer blazed over from inside the box.

At the other end, Ricky Perks was grateful to see a cross go wide with Craig Marshall lurking, as the visitors looked to carve out a chance of their own. However Sutton were forced into an early substitution with Craig Owen, who was instrumental in getting his side back into the game on the opening day of the season, leaving the field injured to be replaced by Joel Kettle.

This change seemed to rattle Sutton and Slough soon took the lead. Buchanan picked the ball up on the right hand side of the box and drilled it across, where Steve Sinclair failed to turn the ball into the net – but it fell perfectly for Sean Sonner in the six yard box to control and sidefoot home.

Slough then went on to dominate the rest of the first half, and Jackson’s goal led a charmed life at times, with Buchanan having a shot cleared off the line after a scramble from Sonner’s dinked cross into the middle.

With 33 minutes played and after almost incessant pressure, Slough scored again with a well-taken strike from Elliot Buchanan. Dean Clark played the ball forward for the striker, who controlled well on the edge of the box and looped a shot past Steve Jackson, who was taken aback by the quickness of the move and stood no chance.

Within a minute, Sutton had a golden chance to pull a goal back as striker Jamille Matt was played in, but the striker’s lobbed effort rebounded back off the post and into the grateful arms of Perks.

Slough continued to dominate and missed a glorious chance as a trademark long throw from Yeboah caused panic in the Sutton defence. Sinclair’s shot from a narrow angle was blocked and Clark tried an effort from the edge of the box, but Jackson gathered with Bowden-Haase somehow unable to get a touch in front of the ‘keeper to turn the ball in.

Moments later, Buchanan had another effort cleared off the line after Sonner’s fine cross had been tipped wide for a corner, as Sutton struggled to cope with the free-flowing attacks of the Rebels. Sutton did manage to force another half-chance though as Matt found time to pick out a cross to Matt Jackson at the far post, and although he was unmarked, his header was a difficult one and the ball sailed over the bar.

Just before half time, Slough almost found a killer third goal as Buchanan showed great trickery on the right, but his inch-perfect cross to Sonner was headed straight at Jackson by the livewire striker.

Sutton manager Chris Keogh rang the changes at half-time, replacing ineffectual substitute Kettle in the process, and threw on an extra striker to try and save the game.

Within six minutes of the restart, Sutton were back in the game. As a cross came in from the right, Ricky Perks appeared to miss his punch and Jake Marrall headed in.

The goal put Slough on the back foot as Sutton started to dominate possession, but on the break a ball over the top from Buchanan played in Sonner, who shot over from a difficult angle after a mix-up between Steve Jackson and captain Phil Male.

Slough missed a glorious chance to restore their two-goal lead as Herron played Buchanan clean through with only Jackson to beat, but his shot across goal agonisingly grazed the far post and went wide.

Just as on the opening day, Slough were made to rue the missed chances as a Sutton corner to the far post was headed in by Marshall, with the marking severely lacking, to seal a fine comeback with eleven minutes to go.

Things could have been worse for Slough though, as Jamille Matt almost back heeled a goal but Perks saved smartly, with his defence and midfield all at sea and barely coping with the pressure from Sutton.

Late on, Yeboah had a header blocked on the line, but neither side was able to carve out a clear chance and the points were shared.