Twenty five heroes : that was the expression widely heard as the players and officials left the field after 90 minutes of gruelling, highly skilful football played in torrential rain.

Had the game been halted no one would have complained but the players revelled in the difficult conditions well earning the ovation that greeted them at the finish.

The high spot of the game was Danny Lakey's headed goal in the thirteenth minute of the second half making the score 3 each.

Earlier Sutton had taken the lead with goals from Pritchard and Mellows only for Dave Hyde to reduce the arrears just before half-time.

Reduced to ten men Sutton scored again on the resumption, then followed a period of Hendon pressure during which we scored through Danny Lakey (2), Dave Hyde and two own goals.