Binns 36 Pratt 69 pen, 90 Adelsbury 83
Lineup
1 Alan Julian; 2 Kevin Amankwaah; 3 Callum Hart; 4 Bedsente Gomis; 76 Bignall; 5 Michael Spillane: 6 Charlie Clough;
7 Kane Haysman; 71 Lockwood; 8 Glen Southam; 9 Craig Dundas; 10 Jessy Reindorf; 86 Evans; 11 Dale Binns; 12 Ricky Wellard; 14 Matt Lockwood; 15 Nick Bignall; 16 Jack Evans; 17 Tom Lovelock
For the second week running Sutton followed a reasonable first half with a second 45 minutes which failed to reach that level, and this time they were punished as Bath continued their recovery from a poor start to the season by extending their unbeaten run to six league and cup games with three goals in the last twenty minutes. U's led at half time through a Dale Binns goal, and were good value for the lead with goalkeeper Alan Julian not tested in what was a fairly tepid first period, but just as against FC Romania the previous week they couldn't maintain the momentum, and the visitors had looked dangerous even before the turning point of the game saw Michael Spillane, who until that point had impressed in a central defensive role, sent off for a foul on substitute Ross Stearn, whose introduction five minutes earlier was another influential moment. Dave Pratt levelled from the resulting penalty, and with the help of a superb 30-yard strike from Ben Adelsbury Bath were able to complete the turn-round.
Even as they toiled in the second half Sutton were still having little trouble defending their lead until just after the hour mark when Andy Watkins was replaced by Stearn. Immediately Bath carried more threat, and Chas Hemmings was sent clear through the middle by Ashley Kington only to be denied by the onrushing Julian. It was a short-lived reprieve, though, as from the resulting throw-in Kington slipped a pass through to Stearn, who was ahead of Spillane and about to shoot when the defender's challenge sent him sprawling. Spillane seemed to get some of the ball but challenging from behind he was always running the risk of being penalised, and once referee Carl Brook had decided that there was also contact with the Bath player and awarded the penalty, the red card was always going to follow. Pratt sent Julian the wrong way from the spot, and from then on Bath had the upper hand. Sutton were frustrated when the afternoon's one really poor piece of refereeing saw Craig Dundas wriggle free of three challenges only to be brought back for a free kick in his favour just as he moved in to space, but there was little to trouble Mellor, and with seven minutes left Stearn rolled a pass in to Adelsbury's path, and the midfielder hammered in a shot that flew past Julian from well outside the penalty area. Sutton's only attack of note as they looked for an equaliser ended in more frustration when the overlapping Matt Lockwood, brought on following Spillane's departure, ran offside as Binns set up a crossing opportunity, and in the last minute any hope of a comeback was ended as Stearn crossed low from the right and Pratt stretched at the far post to bundle the ball in.
Bath: J Mellor, D Bowman (sub K Patten 23), D Ball, A Gallinagh, P Keary, S Simpson, A Watkins(sub R Stearn 64), B Adelsbury, D Pratt, A Kington, C Hemmings (sub N McCootie 86). Subs n/u J Rollo. Goals: Pratt (69 pen, 90), Adelsbury(83). Booked: Hemmings (86-foul).
Referee
Carl Brook (Hastings)
For all of the latest news of the club go to: http://www.suttonunited.net/