Goal scorer Dale Binns and manager Paul Doswell were left frustrated by a poor second-half as ten-man Sutton United lost 3-1 at home to Bath City in the Conference South.
Binns had deservedly put Sutton in front in a first-half they had thoroughly dominated, despite creating little.
Despite the well-timed goal, Sutton did not keep their momentum going into the second-half when Bath took control. Dave Pratt’s penalty levelled it up for City after Micky Spillane was sent off for a foul on Ross Stearn.
Ben Adlesbury’s wonder goal then put the visitors in front before Pratt’s second sealed the victory late on.
“We didn’t get going, we just didn’t do the simple things well in the second-half like we did in the first,” said Binns.
“Still, it was comfortable and even when we went a man down I never thought we’d lose.
“At that point I was thinking a point would’ve been a bad result and then we got undone by that blinder.”
“There weren’t many positives to take from this match, we were very sloppy. It was a horrible day, but you got to take it on the chin.” Paul Doswell
But manager Paul Doswell was more damning about his side’s display.
“We did not get at them at all in the second-half,” he said.
“There weren’t many positives to take from this match, we were very sloppy. It was a horrible day, but you got to take it on the chin.”
In the Ryman Premier, a late goal Matt Pattinson saw Met Police come from behind to beat Billericay Town 2-1 at home.
Meanwhile, Hampton & Richmond Borough lost their second on the bounce away at Tonbridge Angels 2-0 and Kingstonian were beaten at home by Leiston 1-0.
In Ryman Division One, Tooting & Mitcham beat Herne Bay 1-0 thanks to a first-half goal by Dan Summers.
Dave Hodge’s second-half strike snatched a point for Corinthians Casuals away at Faversham Town while Walton & Hersham lost 2-1 to Sittingbourne at home as Nathan Daly’s goal was not enough to spark a late comeback.
Walton Casuals let a 4-2 goal slip away at Whitstable Town as they conceded three goals in the last ten minutes to lose the game 5-4.
And Colliers Wood and Raynes Park Vale are both into the first round proper of the FA Vase after both sides recorded 2-1 wins.
Colliers Wood beat Shoreham and Raynes Park beat Epsom Athletic. The first round takes place on the weekend of November 1.
