Following his 'super sub' display against Hastings, Billy Marshall was rewarded with a place in the starting lineup against promotion chasing Sutton.  Also starting for the first time was Aussie import Michael McEntegart, replacing Dave King who is away on business.

In a busy opening for both sides it was the combination of Marshall and Pitterson that caught the eye for Terrors, although neither team created any clear chances. 

Sutton were first to get a shot in after quarter of an hour, but Eribenne blasted high over the bar, as did Dundas two minutes later having broken free down the left and moved inside for his shot.  

Jason Pinnock continues to impress in midfield, but these days the former forward seems to freeze in front of goal, as happened again after twenty minutes when he took too long to tee up his shot and was robbed of possession.

The last fifteen minutes of the half produced Tootings best attacking spell.  Firstly, Marshall delivered a remarkable high back heeled cross from the goal line which dropped steeply towards the back post where Paul Vines was waiting to head it towards the net, only to be cleared off the line.  

 Next Jason Pinnock, attacking down the left, moved into the box and fed the ball back to Matt York for a low shot which was defected away for a corner. Finally, in injury time, the Pitterson/Marshall combination nearly delivered as the winger set up a great opening, but the youngsters shot just eluded the angle of the upright.

Half Time: 0-0

 Marshall had a couple more chances in the first quarter of an hour.  A bit of inexperience showed when he slowed his break through the home defence in reaction to their calls for offside, enabling them to slow him up and only offer a weak shot.  The next attempt, from inside the six yard box, should have been buried as another excellent Pitterson cross was blasted miles over.

However, throughout the half Sutton, prompted by Dundas, kept asking questions of the Tooting midfield and defence.  This time though, there was to be no collapse or opening of gaps. Hartburn was again in the thick of everything and all of the defence can rightly take a bow for neutralising everything the home side threw at them.  McEntegart made an impressive debut and, although only having to make one superb save (on 72 minutes), was assured throughout.

Paul Vines had one more opportunity, really more of a half chance, when he beat Nicholls to a high ball, but could not direct his header into the net. In the last quarter of an hour the chances pretty much dried up as Sutton pressed.  Overall, a well deserved point from an enjoyable goalless draw

View from the other end