A howling wind and at times horizontal rain before the game didn't deter Yeovil's biggest crowd of the season so far from turning up at Huish Park this afternoon, but the vast majority were to go home disappointed for the first time this season as the Glovers lost their 100% home record against a determined Sutton side.

The weather had relented to an extent by the time of the kick-off - the rain had stopped at any rate, even if the wind still swirled around the stands. Added to that the pitch was wet and greasy, making conditions difficult for both teams. Sutton began the game well with big striker Mark Watson bustling through on goal in the 4th minute, only to be denied by yet another point-blank Tony Pennock save. Steve Stott could have put Yeovil one-up when a Patmore flick-on found him unmmarked on the edge of the Sutton penalty area, but his first-time shot curled wide of the post.

Referee Mr Habgood - not an unfamiliar face at Huish Park this season - was annoying both sets of supporters by his insistence on blowing up for what seemed the most trivial of contacts and then ignoring more serious fouls, and the game suffered as a result, neither side being able to impose any kind of order on the match - not helped, it must be said, by the difficult conditions. If anything the visitors were having slightly the better of it and were looking marginally more dangerous, especially from the odd corner that they forced.

However, the home side missed a golden opportunity to take the lead in the 32nd minute. For the first time in the game they managed to put together an extended passing movement which culminated in Smith releasing Foster who drove into the Sutton penalty area. His cross-goal ball found Patmore unmarked at the far post - all the big striker had to do was tap into an empty net but he somehow contrived to hit the post instead and the chance was wasted.

Sutton nearly made Yeovil pay minutes later, and again the danger came from a corner. Mark Watson had a free header in the penalty area but the well-positioned David Piper cleared off his own line with Pennock stranded. The visitors really should have taken the lead just before half-time. Ex-Yeovil super-sub Sam Winston broke out of his own half and found Watson again unmarked in front of the Yeovil goal. This time Pennock wasn't required to get his side out of jail, the Sutton striker blasting the ball nearer to the corner-flag than the back of the net.

Yeovil began the second half as if they meant to try to finish the game off quickly, pressing their opponents back well and putting plenty of pressure on the Sutton goal. Yet for all their possession real chances were few and far between and indeed it was Sutton who found a way back into the match after an untidy scramble in the Yeovil area led to Mark WATSON making amends for his earlier misses by somehow bundling the ball into the net. It was a scruffy goal, though not undeserved.

Sutton then shocked the home fans by going ahead. Yet again the danger came from a corner though this time it would be unfair to lay any blame on either goalkeeper or defence. David Harlow's cross looked to be heading relatively harmlessly to the back of the penalty area when the gusting wind curled the ball viciously back in towards the goal. Barry LAKER was credited with the final touch but from where I was it almost looked as if the ball had gone in direct from the corner. At any rate, Sutton had taken the lead.

Yeovil huffed and puffed for the rest of the game but for all of their undoubted effort it was becoming evident that this was going to be one of those days. Jason Eaton and Lee Archer replaced Foster and Piper in the 81st minute and almost immediately both men wasted chances to equalize, Eaton's shot with only keeper Howell's to beat being saved, the rebound falling to Archer who's shot was saved again.