Sutton United were left to rue missed opportunities in an entertaining Ryman Premier League clash at play-off rivals Tooting & Mitcham on Saturday.

The result keeps Sutton in the play-off positions, but heading a group of 10 teams separated by only six points.

Simon Parker had given Tooting a first-half lead, but the hosts were up against it after Colin Hartburn was sent off with more than half an hour left.

And when Sam Gargan equalised with 16 minutes remaining, United went all out for the three points.

They came desperately close when Gargan’s shot hit the inside of the post and rebounded across goal.

Sutton made a bright start and, in the fourth minute Matt Hann’s run on the right ended in a cross which saw Gargan arrive at the far post, but unable to make enough contact to beat Dave King in the Tooting goal.

A late challenge on Hann after he had put in the cross meant that Sutton had another chance from a free kick, but it came to nothing.

Instead they were nearly caught on the break when former Sutton reserve Sam Clayton burst through on to a pass from the back, but a heavy touch allowed Kevin Scriven to come off his line to save.

Apart from another Clayton shot beaten away by Scriven, Sutton carried the greater threat.

Karim El-Salahi headed wide from a Norwood corner and Charlie Taylor, put through by a delicious pass from Francis Quarm, scrambling in a shot under pressure that King diverted for a corner.

Nine minutes before half time, Colin Hartburn was booked for a late challenge on Norwood. Referee Eric Mackrell played a good advantage before going back to show the yellow card, which made it hard to understand Norwood’s retaliatory push once play had stopped to earn a card of his own.

Having failed to score the goal their play deserved, United were almost rocked back when keeper Kevin Scriven had to go to his left to push away Allan McLeod’s long-range shot.

From the resulting corner, the loosely marked Matt York headed over when he might have don better.

But there was no reprieve for Sutton four minutes from the break. Paul Vines neatly laid a cross from the left and Parker slotted the ball past Scriven.

United could have levelled immediately. Hann and Taylor combined to set up a chance for Gargan, who pulled his shot just across goal.

However, a sense of frustration in the Sutton camp was reflected in a foul that earned Quarm a booking.

Early in the second half, the impressive Sonny Cobbs volleyed just over after a strong run.

Then Tooting, for the third time in three games against this season, were reduced to 10 men as Hartburn collected a second yellow card for a challenge on Norwood as the on-loan striker tried to collect a poss over the top from sub Billy Hawes.

From the resulting free kick, Norwood might easily have followed Hartburn down the tunnel as he tumbled over in the penalty area.

Mr Mackrell waving aside Sutton claims for a penalty, while Tooting protests that Norwood should receive a second yellow card for diving were ignored.

The striker may have been saved by the sound of contact as he was challenge, which suggested an accidental collision.

But it was not a surprise to see his game - and three-month loan spell at Sutton - end shortley afterwards, with Steve Watts replacing him.

As Sutton piled on the pressure in searcch of an equaliser, their sense of deserpation through - never more so than when Cobbs and Taylor impeded each other after Cobbs had again burst through the defence.

Sixteen minutes from the end, though, a long pass from the back released Gargan on the right of the penalty area, and this time the finish was unerring to take his league goals tally for the season in to double figures.

It set up a rousing finish and United might have had a penalty when Hann was barged over.

Then, eight minutes from time, Watts flicked on another Hawes through ball for Gargan, whose shot beat King but hit the inside of the post and rebounded across goal.

Watts also headed over the top from a Hawes cross as United pressed for the winner before having to settle for a point.

Tooting & Mitcham: D King, C Hartburn, A Fletcher (sub J Henry 78), M Nelson, T Graves, M York, A McLeod (sub C Pitterson 70), A Goode, P Vines, S Parker, S Clayton. Subs n/u I Harusha. Goal: Parker (41). Booked: Hartburn (foul-36). Sent Off: Hartburn (foul-second bookable offence-58).

Sutton: K Scriven, K El-Salahi, A Bray, S Cobbs, D Obaze(sub B Hawes 56), S Perkins, M Hann, F Quarm, S Gargan, J Norwood (sub S Watts 62), C Taylor (sub D Phillips 78) Subs n/u J Hawes, S McKimm. Goal: Gargan (74). Booked: Norwood (36-retaliation), Quarm (44-foul).

Referee: E Mackrell Attendance: 630