Sutton United 2 Kingstonian 4

But, whereas a season ago they qualified as the fifth placed side and were heavy underdogs going in to their game at Staines, this defeat will have hit much harder.

They had earned home advantage against a Kingstonian side who had not won in the league since a slightly fortunate victory over United at Kingsmeadow on Easter Saturday.

When Sutton recovered from a poor start and an early goal to lead deservedly 2-1 at the break, it seemed as though the formbook would be followed and that Boreham Wood would be visiting Gander Green Lane on Saturday in the final.

But a change of tactic from Kingstonian, pushing Christian Jolley up front alongside Bobby Traynor, and a failure of United to recapture their first half form saw the visitors reply with three fine unanswered goals.

They included a breathtaking effort from Traynor that edged Ks in front and dealt a body blow to Sutton's hopes.

In front of a crowd of 1,401, it was a game to reflect great credit on the Ryman League, played in a terrific spirit and, until a second Traynor goal gave United too much to do, entertaining and fluctuating.

Indeed it would have been a worthy final, and was all the better for having as its defining incident a moment of pure brilliance from the Ryman League's leading scorer.

Ks had settled the better and struck the first blow in the 10th minute with a goal as messy as their three second half efforts were good.

United had several chances to clear the ball after Luke Hickie's run in from the left appeared to have hit a dead-end, but the ball continued to ricochet around the penalty area before breaking to Jolley, who found himself with just Kevin Scriven to beat from ten yards out.

Within 20 minutes, though, Sutton had taken control as Steve Perkins' aerial prowess at dead ball situations proved decisive.

First, he headed a free kick back across goal and, although Charlie Taylor failed to make contact Bradley Woods-Garness was on hand to steer the ball past Rob Tolfrey.

Ten minutes later Perkins met another Karim El-Salahi free kick with a towering header that looped beyond Tolfrey in to the far corner of the net.

At this point United were somewhere near the standard of play that their supporters would have hoped for, and would have had a third but for Tolfrey going low to his left and pushing Francis Quarm's shot just out of the reach of Woods-Garness.

The half time whistle interrupted their momentum, though, and before they could regain the control they had had before the break K's levelled when.

Perkins' headed clearance from a free kick dropped on the edge of the area for Adam Thompson to strike a crisp low volley through a crowd of players in to the net.

It was an excellent effort, but eclipsed 13 minutes later in the most spectacular fashion.

There appeared little immediate danger when Hickie sent in a cross at chest height from the right having found some space near the touchline, but Traynor, standing on the 18-yard line, took off to meet the ball with a sensational flying volley which crashed unstoppably in to the top corner of Scriven's net.

It was a goal worthy of winning any game at any level, and a blow from which Sutton, who had seconds earlier sent on the pace of Anthony Joseph in place of Steve McKimm, never recovered.

Mo Harkin flashed a shot just over the bar after Hickie had pulled another cross back from the by-line before Traynor cut in from the right of the penalty area and showed some neat skill to take the ball round Scriven before tucking it in to the net.

Sutton, with several of their key first half performers now anonymous, and missing the injured Alan Bray, Alan Pouton and Sam Gargan, had to accept the end of their promotion hopes.

Sutton: K Scriven, K El-Salahi, J Hawes (M Hann 75), J Goodliffe, S Perkins, S Cobbs, S McKimm (sub A Joseph 62), F Quarm, C Taylor, D Phillips, B Woods-Garness (sub S Watts 68). Subs n/u B Hawes, W Shaw. Goals: Woods-Garness (18), Perkins(28).

Kingstonian: R Tolfrey, J Fletcher, B Alimi, A Thompson, F Duku, S Huckle (sub L I'Anson H-T), M Harkin, B Traynor, L Hickie, C Jolley. Subs n/u R Sheridan, D Lodge, C Wilson-Denis, L Garrard. Goals: Jolley(10), Thompson (50), Traynor (63,74). Booked: I'Anson (69-foul)

Referee: M Russell (Bristol)

Att 1,401