Sutton & Epsom could take encouragement despite a fourth straight defeat at Rugby Lane on Saturday.

While both sides scored three tries, newly promoted Dorking had a match winner in their fly half Matt Noble, whose three long range penalties and two sharp drop goals helped to preserve their unbeaten record.

Although Sutton started strongly, camping in the Dorking half but their early tactics appeared to be limited to using inside centre Steve Warnham as a battering ram, which hardly plays to his strengths.

On the other hand, the experiment of changing their half backs positions was undoubtedly a success.

Frankie Murray as much happier at scrum half and although skipper Steve Munford had not played fly half since he was 10 years old, he showed that with a little more experience he could become accomplished in that position.

His defence is awesome and a couple of long reverse box kicks reminded the Sutton faithful of legendary fly half Sam Frost in his prime.

Sutton’s forwards generally outscrummaged their opposition throughout the match and it was therefore ironic that Dorking should open the scoring after 10 minutes from a Sutton scrum on their own 22.

Quite how Dorking were allowed to steal the ball on the retreat was not clear but steal it they did and quick hands gave their much travelled winger Gary Johnson the simplest of run ins.

This was unconverted and, within five minutes, Munford responded with a penalty from 38 metres.

His continued participation was in doubt after a dangerous spear tackle, which strangely failed to invoke even a yellow card for the culprit, but after lengthy treatment he was able to continue.

After a further 20 minutes stalemate Noble landed his first penalty from 45 metres.

Munford quickly responded with a neat drop goal, but Noble reacted with another penalty from almost 50m so that Dorking led 11-6 at the break.

They extended this within three minutes of the restart with an unconverted try when numbe eight Jason Geldenhuys broke a tackle near halfway, raced down the wing before putting winger Scott Johnson over with an inside pass.

Yet again the sides swapped penalties first Munford then Noble, this time from a mere 46 metres.

Sutton’s pack were now getting on top despite losing five lineouts on their own throw and strong running from number eight Simon Hough and flanker Steve Ebbett was causing Dorking problems.

This pressure was rewarded on 25 minutes when lock Chris Endersby spun over from a 5 metre lineout but Munford’s attempted conversion slid agonisingly past the right post.

Soon after Noble slotted a drop goal when Sutton lost another lineout and then a sharp Dorking counter attack saw flanker Jan Prinsloo slip a tackle and cross for an unconverted try.

When Noble banged over his second drop goal Sutton faced a 16-ppoint deficit with five minutes left, but they responded in commendable fashion.

After strong surges by their forwards, good work in centre field by lock Felix Symonds created a clear overlap on the left and although this chance was wasted Sutton continued to apply maximum pressure.

This was rewarded when Murray’s slick reverse pass put the impressive Ebbett over by the posts.

Two minutes later, replacement centre Jarred Vock pounced on loose ball from a charge down, kicked ahead and won the race to the touch down. Murray converted both but sadly for Sutton it was too little too late, although the bonus point which Sutton earned lifted them off bottom spot.

This Saturday Sutton travel to Suffolk to take on Diss (3pm).