A flurry of goals in the last 11 minutes of the first half at the Newport Stadium on Saturday saw Sutton double their away goals tally for the season, but the home side take a firm grip on the game that they rarely looked like losing in the second period as they maintained their place on the fringes of the promotion picture.

Us remain on the fringes at the other end of the table, but there were some positive aspects in defeat, with new signing Bashiru Alimi catching the eye on a goalscoring debut and the performance in the first half deserving better than to concede two goals in the last five minutes having immediately cancelled out Craig Hughes' opener.

With the benefit of a blustery wind in the first half Us started very well, with a succession of corners and attacking throw-ins, but Neil Lampton headed just over from one Matt Gray corner and Us' second debutant of the afternoon, 38-year-old former Wimbledon centre back Alan Reeves, headed another corner back across goal.

Gray also made Mark Ovendale save a low free kick, and in these early stages Newport were restricted to hopeful and inaccurate long range shots from Hughes and Lee Collier.

Us had to make one early change as Eddie Akuamoah limped off, but it was still somewhat against the run of play that Newport went ahead when a softly conceded and then quickly taken free kick found Steve Jenkins in space on the right, and when his low cross found Hughes with his back to goal Newport's leading scorer made just enough space to turn and shoot low beyond Luke Naughton.

Collier immediately fired another shot just over from 20 yards, but Us responded to give their away support a goal to cheer for the first time since John Scarborough's winner at Braintree on the first day of the season.

Scarborough started the move that led to this one, chipping a pass down the right for Gray, who battled past Shane Brewer and fired in a superb low cross that was turned in from close range by Alimi.

Scarcely had Us supporters savoured the moment, though, than they were behind again as defensive hesistation allowed Collier to run on to a through ball which he reached just before Naughton, who sent him tumbling and might have been a little fortunate only to be shown a yellow card.

If there seemed little dispute over referee Stuart Burt's penalty decision, there was room for plenty over Jason Bowen's conversion, the midfielder stopping in mid run-up and then continuing once Naughton had committed himself to go to his left, rolling the ball in to the opposite corner.

Us players pleaded with every justification for a retake, but Mr Burt was having none of it and instead of reaching half time deservedly level U's found themselves two adrift when Hughes slotted a shot past the helpless Naughton as the ball ran loose after a bustling run from Julian Alsop had been ended on the edge of the area.

Hughes came close to his hat trick early in the second half, clipping the top of the crossbar with a free kick from just outside the penalty area, and the Us' cause wasn't helped when the next heavy shower arrived, accompanied by a stronger wind which proved too much for most of the standing advertising boards on one side of the ground and would have given home goalkeeper Ovendale some chance of testing Naughton with a drop-kick should the chance have arisen.

Michael Johnson cleared off the line from Sam O'Sullivan, but Us still had chances to set up an exciting finish, with Johnson and Ross Gaynor shooting weakly at Ovendale from promising positions, and Ian Hillier having to scramble away a cross from Gaynor with several players closing in inside the six-yard box.

The threat was never consistent enough to give real hope of a comeback, though, particularly once Us lost Alimi having already made their three substitutions.

The third of those saw a debut for the reserves' free-scoring striker Jason Henry, who had the defence scrambling once as he almost capitalised on a long through ball, but in the closing stages Newport looked likelier to change the scoreline and Naughton did well to dive at the feet of substitute Matt Green after he had beaten the offside trap.

Sutton: L Naughton, R Palmer, A Reeves, J Scarborough, N Lampton, E.Akuamoah(sub M Johnson 23), M Gray, P Honey(sub R Harris 66), C Ide(sub J Henry 78), R Gaynor, B Alimi. Subs n/u S Clayton,M Maan. Goal: Alimi(37) Booked: Honey(28-foul), Naughton(39-foul).

Referee : S Burt(Northampton) Attendance: 821 With their original opponents, Cambridge City, engaged in the FA Cup on Saturday Sutton have rearranged their Nationwide South visit to Bognor Regis, originally scheduled for a Tuesday night in March, for this Saturday, kick off 3pm.

Last season's goalless draw at Nyewood Lane extended Us' unbeaten run on the ground to five games, and you have to go back to a 1-1 draw in August 1992 for the last time Bognor scored in a league game between the clubs.

The ground is in Nyewood Lane - drivers entering Bognor on the A29 should continue until the junction with the A259 at a large roundabout, then take the A259 towards Chichester.

Then take the third turning on the left, Hawthorne Road, and Nyewood Lane is about the 8th turning on the left, although the ground can be seen before then.

If travelling by train leave Sutton at 11.59 or 12.59 and change at Horsham to arrive at Bognor at 13.48 or 14.48 - alternatively catch the 12.15 off Sutton and change at Selhurst, East Croydon and Barnham to arrive at 14.17.

The last return train via Horsham is at 16.59, with later trains at 17. 34 and 17.59 requiring changes at East Croydon and West Croydon (and an additional change at Barnham on the 17.34).

The home game against Cambridge City has been rearranged for Tuesday 14 November, kick off 7.45pm.

Us reserves took over at the top of the Suburban League last Tuesday when they beat Metropolitan Police 3-2 with goals from Sam Clayton, Ryan Watts and Jason Henry, but they were replaced by Ashford on goal difference on Saturday after being held to a goalless draw at home to Basingstoke.

This Saturday Us reserves are away to Hemel Hempstead, who were champions last season but only climbed off the foot of this season's table on Saturday with a win over Uxbridge.

Us youth team, whose game at Fisher was postponed last Wednesday and who were due to play two games this week, at Croydon on Monday and at home to Chipstead in the Surrey Under 18 Cup on Wednesday, are at home next Wednesday to Tonbridge.