A brilliant solo strike from super sub Nassim Akrour salvaged a precious point for 10-man Sutton United on Saturday, writes Dominic Aslangul.
Akrour's stunning equaliser from a tight angle couldn't have been more important for United's Ryman Premier title aspirations with Kingstonian finding a late winner at Hendon to move within a single point of Sutton.
United's best chance of a poor first-half display came from an early Haynes's corner.
Both Clark and Vansittart saw efforts cleared off the line before Watson's blistering volley was only denied by the underside of the crossbar.
Walton took a deserved lead on 28 minutes when Sayer ran on to Baron's through ball before lobbing the onrushing Les Cleevely from the edge of the box.
Walton's troublesome Sayer had scuffed a shot wide minutes before his goal and almost doubled his side's lead soon afterwards when he sent an effort just inches wide of Cleevely's post.
United were reduced to 10 men within seconds of the second half restart when influential midfielder John Ugbah received his marching orders for a mis-timed tackle on Walton's Ray.
Despite the blow, Sutton fought on and drew level with Akrour's wonder goal on 70 minutes.
He calmly strolled through Walton's bewildered defence before deftly dispatching the ball inside the far post from the tightest of angles.
Inspired by the equaliser, United pushed for all three points and came agonisingly close near the end when Vansittart stabbed an effort just over after meeting a well- measured cross from the Algerian Akrour.
United's kept their hopes of silverware in the Guardian Insurance Cup alive on Tuesday night, drawing 0-0 with St Albans at Gander Green Lane in the first leg of the competition's semi-final.
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