Wealdstone 0 Sutton United 2
Gordon Bartlett hailed Sutton United as the best side in the league after they claimed a 2-0 victory at The Vale on Monday night.
Bedsente Gomis opened the scoring from the penalty spot with just over 10 minutes of the first half still to play.
Sutton benefitted from going down the slope in the second half and, after a sustained spell of pressure, Louis John made the game safe for the in-form side.
Bartlett said afterwards: "I think they're the best side in the league and I think it was a tight encounter but, physically, they were stronger than us and we only created a couple of chances in the game.
"I was more disappointed with the loss against Oxford City. I've got no complaints about Sutton."
To be fair the game was very even for the first 30 minutes and Stones had a goal from Johnny Wright chalked off for an offside infringement after only four minutes play.
Stones battled away manfully and tried to probe a big, mean, ugly defence without luck because they couldn’t hold the ball up in the centre forward position but were having some joy down the flanks via Bradley Hudson-Odoi and the recalled Shaun Lucien. But it was all rather pea shooter stuff against Chieftain Tanks.
Stones began to come under increasing pressure but a sickeningly soft hand ball decision against Dale Binns effectively turned the game with Gomis slotting home the penalty.
Bartlett added: "I think a few things are going against us. I don't think there was much in the first half.
"I can't whinge and moan about it. It certainly hit his hand but I don't think he had much reaction time. No complaints."
The moaning and whinging and spoiling continued as Stones huffed and politely puffed out the half.
Soon after the turnaround Stones almost grabbed a life line when for once Morgan slipped the ball to Hudson-Odoi whose sharp strike whistled past Ross Worner’s upright.
Ryan Burge headed over and then United had a goal chalked off themselves but the ironic cheers were not to last long as it become the Silence of the lambs inside the Freebets Stadium as the home support become paralysed with nervous anticipation and in the process forgot to create any kind of noise, leaving that to a rather pathetic away turnout (for a top side).
Stones used all subs but in the final analysis it made little difference as Sutton netted the inevitable second after an almighty scramble through Louis John.
Wealdstone host Margate on Saturday and Bartlett urged his side to carry on in the belief results will turn.
He explained: "We'll carry on doing what we've highlighted where we think it's not right. We went into Saturday looking at the top half and we went into Monday looking over our shoulder.
"The sides we're playing over Easter need to be beaten. We've played the top sides - they're the games where you hope you pick something up."
