Sutton United 1 Alton Town 2

Sutton found that top place in the Ryman League, and home advantage against a side that had shipped 23 goals in six Wessex League games this season, provided no immunity to a result that will sit right alongside the 1986 defeat at Yeading in the list of United’s cup humiliations.

To describe it in those terms, however, does scant justice to an Alton side who refused to buckle after a stunning goal from Bradley Woods-Garness, and breached a defence that had been impregnable until late in Tuesday’s game at Hastings with two fine goals.

In right winger Simba Mlambo and striker Ben White Alton had the game’s two outstanding individuals, although Woods-Garness, who threatened at times to be the match-winner, also deserves a mention in that context, and committed tackling and defending was backed up by goalkeeper Craig Atkinson, who made fine saves at crucial stages.

There was little sign early on of what was to come, with United’s going close to an early lead when Andre Costa, starting as Fola Orilonishe became the latest addition to a lengthening injury list, was scythed down on the edge of the penalty area by Clive Ventham.

Woods-Garness drilled the free kick goalwards but Atkinson produced a superb save to turn the ball away. He almost undid his good work by failing to collect the resulting corner, but was spared when Sam Page’s header from the next corner flew too high.

Richard Jolly, who had a frustrating afternoon, then wasted a great chance after Woods-Garness had been given the benefit of a close offside call to collect Jason Goodliffe’s pass and cross low, Jolly failing to make any meaningful contact in front of a gaping goal.

Four minutes later, United were in front. A fluid left to right move across the penalty area, started by Steve Watts and carried on by Tom Davis and Tom Dunford, ended with Woods-Garness turning inside a defender and clipping a cleanly struck shot from just outside the penalty area in to the top corner of the net.

With Steve Brown booked for a desperate tackle on Costa, and Woods-Garness almost topping his first effort when he collected a short corner from Davis, flicked the ball up, and volleyed inches over from 25 yards, United seemed to be in control.

But, after the introduction of Alton substitute Shane Hollamby, they suddenly found themselves forced back. Within four minutes Hollamby had shaken off the attentions of Page, and with referee Andy Mead playing a good advantage he set up White for a shot that flew just too high.

United failed to heed the warning, though, and a minute later allowed White’s cross from the right to reach supporting left back Tommy Walsh. His low cross wasn’t properly cleared either, and Hollamby planted a shot high to Kevin Scriven’s left for the equaliser.

The half time whistle gave Sutton a chance to regroup and, although nowhere near their most fluent they did look likely to take charge again, with Ian Humble booked for a late challenge on Dunford.

Just before the hour mark, Jolly missed another clear chance when a Davis corner found its way to him via Goodliffe and Watts, but his shot on the turn from barely six yards smacked the crossbar and rebounded to safety.

Watts and Costa made way for Tom Kavanagh and Jerson Dos Santos, but within seconds Dos Santos needed treatment for a cut head after a collision which saw Hollamby forced off with blood pouring from above his left eye.

Sutton still looked the likelier winners, and a delightful pass from Dunford put Woods-Garness through to lift the ball over Atkinson but just wide before Dos Santos did well on the right before chipping in a cross to Jolly beyond the far post, but although his contact this time was clean and accurate, Atkinson flew to his right to beat the ball away.

It proved a crucial save, as with Mlambo beginning to give Watkins something of a chasing on the Alton right Uniteds suddenly looked vulnerable again.

One run from Mlambo ended with a pass to White, whose shot was deflected wide, the next ended with Carl Saunders hitting an angled shot grabbed by Scriven above his head.

But, seconds later, the winger was off again and this time found White, whose wonderful bouncing cross eluded everyone except substitute Jon Gray, diving at the far post to head past the helpless Scriven.

To make matters worse Woods-Garness then had to limp off, with Goodliffe thrown in to the centre forward’s role, but Sutton’s efforts to rescue themselves lacked shape, best shown when Jolly broke through on the left but failed to end the run with either a shot or a cross.

Although Kavanagh saw a powerful shot blocked, and El-Salahi and Davis both shot just over, the Hampshire side were able to hold out for a famous victory and U’s misery was completed in the closing seconds when Goodliffe sustained a suspected dislocated jaw in a clash with Conor Geoghegan.

Sutton: K Scriven, K El-Salahi, R Watkins, J Goodliffe, S Page, T Dunford, B Woods-Garness (sub S McKimm 79), T Davis, S Watts (sub T Kavanagh 60), R Jolly, A Costa (sub J Dos Santos 64). Sub n/u W Shaw. Goal: Woods-Garness (22). Booked: Goodliffe (70-dissent).

Alton: C Atkinson, C Ventham, T Walsh, S Brown, C Geoghegan, I Humble, S Mlambo, S Nicholls(sub S Hollamby 31)(sub J Gray 65), B White, C Saunders, D Bray(sub C Hunter 75). Sub n/u M Nyamunga. Goals: Hollamby(36), Gray(76). Booked: Brown(25-foul), Humble (46-foul), Ventham (85-time wasting).

Referee: A Mead (Orpington) Attendance: 298