Three goals from dead ball situations helped Punjab United defeat Southern Counties East Football League Premier Division league leaders Sutton Athletic.
Coming into the game, visitors Sutton had won their last five league and cup games but the were second best to a positive Punjab team.
George Monger’s free kicks caused problems from the start and Wayne Bushell got on the end of one to draw a great save out of Jack Glassborrow. Although Jack Hopkins followed up, his effort was blocked. Zak Bryon then fired over as the hosts continued to press.
In the fifteenth minute, they went ahead. Monger sent over another diagonal free kick and Bryon knocked it down to Roman Campbell who swept it home from ten yards.
It wasn’t only Monger who caused danger from free kicks and when Steve Ratcliff whipped one in Campbell headed it down to Hopkins who could only guide it towards goal without enough power to beat Glassborrow, and he was able to knock it away with his shoulder.
Needless Sutton fouls in midfield continued to invite pressure onto their defence and Campbell headed wide from another Monger free kick before the Punjab midfielder went directly for goal from a further one and it came back out off the post.
Further Sutton indiscipline cost them again when Ratcliff delivered from out wide and Hopkins arrived late at the far post to power his header home.
Bushell headed a Monger delivery across goal and Ratcliff headed over then Punjab wide man Ethan Okechukwu fired into the side netting.
As half time approached Sutton created an opening when James Bayford pulled it back to Oliver Farmer and he hooked it wide of the near post. However, they pulled one back with a minute remaining before half time. Namory Kane squared to Ben White and he fired home off the underside of the crossbar.
Early in the second period Kyden Lewin-Thomas got on the end of a Ratcliff corner but could only divert it over with his knee then Alfie Moynes created space for Bryon who shot towards the bottom corner but Glassborrow got down well to make the save.
Just shy of the hour mark, Punjab scored their third. Ratcliff delivered a corner to the far post and Bushell headed home from close range.
Okechukwu squared to Bryon, and his shot was well held by Glassborrow. Monger then sent Campbell away but he was unable to get his foot around it and it went well wide before Bryon spotted Glassborrow off his line only to hit his first time shot well wide.
Cameron Reardon was sin binned with four minutes remaining before Ryan Mahal was deemed to have fouled Bryon in the area and a penalty was awarded. Mahal’s dissent resulted in him joining his central defensive partner in the sin bin. Once the fuss had died down Campbell stepped up to take the spot kick but Glassborrow guessed right and made a good save.
In stoppage time, nine man Sutton’s captain Taylor Fisher drew a save out of Owen Bushell and it came back out to Marc Nouble who fired over.
Although beaten, Sutton remain top while Punjab moved up a place to fifteenth in the early season table.
Punjab United: O. Bushell; W. Bushell, Lewin-Thomas, Ratcliff, J. Campbell; Monger; Moynes, Hopkins (Singh 71), Bryon, Okechukwu (Scudder 83); R. Campbell.
Subs not used: Davidson, Belsham, Edwards.
Goalscorers: R. Campbell (15), Hopkins (25), W. Bushell (58)
Yellow cards: None
Sutton Athletic: Glassborrow; Kane (Oduguwa 75), Mahal, Reardon, Mercer (McCarthy 45+3); White (Rye 68), Farmer (Lovell 59); Bayford (Nouble 59), Muckle, Evans; Fisher.
Subs not used: None.
Goal scorers: White (44)
Yellow cards: Evans (60 foul), (White 68 foul)
Sin Bin: Reardon (86), Mahal (87)
Referee: Tom Nicholls
Assistant Referees: Aaron Saunders and Danny Geary
Attendance: 136
Pictures supplied by Michael Brown.