O'S LOSE TO "RAINING" CHAMPIONS

The O’s missed another penalty, their third in two games, early on and then conceded twice just before half time to go in behind, rather harshly. In the second half, played in heavy rain, O’s pushed to get back into the game and had their chances but failed to score for the third game running.

The lack of goals wasn’t for the lack of trying though. Jerome Ingram rounded the Sutton keeper after ninety seconds but his shot was cleared away and the keeper then denied Ingram again on six minutes with a block.

Oldland had a great chance to take the lead after a penalty was awarded for climbing by a Sutton defender in the ninth minute. Having seen two penalties saved last week, this time it was Mark Leigh who stepped up but his firmly struck penalty cannoned off the post and was then cleared.

The rest of the first half hour saw O’s ahead on possession but as half time neared, it was Sutton who took the lead. Joe Morgan beat Ryan Perry to an awkward bouncing ball, headed over the keeper and followed up to slide the ball home.

O’s fought back with Ingram hitting the post and Leigh heading over the bar but a second goal on 41 minutes was a killer. Lance Gingell controlled and hit a dipping volley over Perry, the keeper having no chance to save.

With the rain driving in and forcing all spectators into shelter, O’s had three further chances to get back into the game. Ali Bamford played a one two with Danny Carter and let fly with a left foot scorcher that the Sutton keeper saved well and two minutes later, Liam Planter produced a storming run from deep inside his own half before playing a give-and-go with Tom Hutton and shooting at the keeper.

With ten minutes left, Leigh went for the spectacular with a bicycle kick but his effort went wide of the keeper’s left hand post.