Dulwich Hamlet 3 Sutton United 3

But they had a very good workout in an entertaining game at Champion Hill which saw Sutton come from behind three times to gain a draw.

On a mixed afternoon for players facing their former clubs, it was Dean Palmer, a member of United’s squad last season, who sliced Billy Dunn’s cross in to his own net with two minutes to go.

Laurent Hamici, who had moved from Dulwich during last season, earlier scored within a minute of coming on as a substitute.

There was a first run out in Sutton colours for experienced striker Marcus Richardson, who has been with Farnborough for the past two seasons and who has Football League experience with a number of clubs including Lincoln and Hartlepool.

However, it was his first half strike partner Stefan Payne, at the other end of the age scale, who was involved in the early talking points, miscuing a shot wide after James Hawes had pulled the ball back in to his path.

Payne then had a goal disallowed when referee Peter Georgiou took a dim view of his strong sliding challenge on goalkeeper Tim Morgan that won the ball before he rolled it in to the net.

Before half an hour was up Payne had crossed paths with Mr Georgiou again and was booked for what seemed a good tackle.

By then, United were also behind when a deep cross from the left was misjudged by Alan Bray and volleyed in by Alex Tiesse.

Richardson almost marked his debut with a goal when he diverted a James Hawes shot goalwards and Roberts had to react quickly to save.

Eight minutes before the interval, Payne’s eventful half took an upward turn as he equalised from the penalty spot after Kenny Beaney had been brought down by Gerry Gonnella following a neat interchange with the lively Anthony Joseph.

Five minutes later, though, Dulwich were back in front when a mistake by Karim El-Salahi allowed player-manager Gavin Rose to go clear and score.

Dunn and Billy Chattaway were brought on, and Dunn immediately had a header scrambled away following a corner from Danny Phillips, but it was the arrival of Hamici just before the hour that brought immediate results as with virtually his first touch he fired in a cross from the right that slithered between Roberts and the near post.

Again, United’s equality didn’t last long, with Jay Roberts rattling the crossbar from 25 yards before Gonnella found too much space on the edge of the penalty area and, despite a hint of handball as he controlled the ball, he turned to score with a shot that seemed to go under Scriven in to the net.

By then, United made their last two substitutions, bringing on Sam Stannard and Ebenezer Masabe, the winger whose speed had caught the eye in the friendly at Winchester, but with Dunn and Chattaway both missing good chances, and Phillips having a shot saved, the third equaliser looked as though it would prove elusive until Palmer sliced Dunn’s skidding low cross past the helpless Roberts with just two minutes left.

Even then Dulwich could have taken the lead for a fourth, and surely decisive time but Junior Kadi’s last minute free kick was tipped over by Scriven at full stretch.

Sutton United: K Scriven, B Hawes, A Bray (B Chattaway H-T), K Beaney, K El-Salahi (sub S Stannard 61), J Roberts, A Joseph(sub E Masabe 61), D Phillips, M Richardson(sub L Hamici 58), S Payne(sub B Dunn H-T), J Hawes. Goals: Payne(37 pen), Hamici(59), Palmer(88 og). Booked: Payne (27 – persistent infringement).