Sutton picked up a first win under Steve Morison and moved to within four points of 22nd placed Grimsby with a thrilling and well deserved win at Meadow Lane that completed U’s first, and only, Sky Bet League Two double of the season. Ahead three times, Sutton were pegged back on each occasion but when Charlie Lakin won and converted a penalty with thirteen minutes to go U’s were able to see the game out comfortably, with a fifth Sutton goal looking likelier than a Notts County equaliser in the last ten minutes.

Stephen Duke-McKenna and Olly Sanderson replaced Josh Coley and Craig Clay in Sutton’s starting line up, and Duke-McKenna needed only five minutes to create an impact, swinging over a fine cross from the left that was scrambled in at the far post by Ryan Jackson to give U’s the perfect start.

The Liverpudlian then had a shot of his own that went wide, but Sutton’s lead was soon wiped out as Macaulay Langstaff turned in the penalty area and hit a fierce shot that was blocked by a diving Ben Goodliffe, but with a hand, and after waiting to see if Sam Austin could head home the rebound referee Ollie Yates pointed to the spot and Langstaff blasted the penalty high in to the net. It took just three minutes for U’s to go back in front, though, as a dreadful back pass from Aden Baldwin left Harry Smith with just goalkeeper Luca Ashby-Hammond to beat and he took full advantage.

Notts County hit back again looking for an equaliser, with Steve Arnold saving well from a Jodi Jones volley, and Langstaff shooting over after getting the benefit of a tight offside call as he ran on to Scott Robertson’s pass. Sutton still had chances at the other end, Sanderson heading just over, but with twelve minutes to go to half time Dan Crowley met a Jones cross with a looping header that dropped just inside the post with both Arnold and Goodliffe unable to reach it.

Jones saw a shot blocked by Arnold, and Crowley sent a 20-yard shot too high as the home side finished the half strongly, although they had to make a change just before half time as the injured Jaden Warner was replaced by Connell Rawlinson. In stoppage time Arnold saved from a Kyle Cameron header and Aaron Nemane’s shot was blocked, but it was Sutton who came out on the front foot after the break, Goodliffe heading disappointingly wide from a Lakin free kick. U;’s were indebted to Arnold, though, for a brilliant save on the hour when a Jones cross from the right came through to Sam Austin at the far post, who seemed as though he had to score with a header but for Arnold managing to push the ball out from on the line. Arnold needed treatment soon afterwards but substitute goalkeeper Matt Kerbey wasn’t required, and five minutes later U’s were back in front. Smith did superbly on the left of the penalty area to create space and fire in a shot that was well saved by Ashby-Hammond, Craig Eastmond’s follow up effort was blocked by Cameron with what looked like an arm, but the rebound fell to Sanderson in front of an open goal six yards out, and the QPR loanee had his first Sutton goal.

Again the lead was short lived, as Crowley battled through two challenges on the edge of the penalty area and sent a well placed shot inside Arnold’s right hand post, but Sutton responded superbly. Sam Hart should have joined Sanderson in scoring a first goal for the club when he met Lakin’s corner at the far post with an unmarked diving header that flew over the bar, and Lakin curled a shot just wide from the edge of the area. Two minutes later, though, Lakin was tripped by Crowley as he tried to jink his way through just inside the penalty area, and having not been awarded a penalty in the league this season until Saturday, U’s now had two in two games. Lakin took responsibility with a penalty every bit as convincing as Langstaff’s had been earlier, and this time U’s wouldn’t be denied. Indeed the lead might have been extended as Smith’s low shot was pushed away by Ashby-Hammond and Hart shot just too high, while Arnold was untroubled as U’s saw out six minutes of stoppage time mainly in the Notts County half before being able to celebrate a superb victory with the 113 travelling supporters who left Meadow Lane with renewed optimism for the rest of the season.

Sutton: S Arnold, R Jackson, N Adom-Malaki (sub J Coley 80), J Kizzi, B Goodliffe, S Hart, O Sanderson (sub D Moore 80), C Eastmond(sub C Clay 67), H Smith, C Lakin, S Duke-McKenna (sub C N’Guessan 67). Subs n/u M Kerbey, J Taylor, J Williams. Booked: Adom-Malaki, Goodliffe, Lakin, Hart, Clay.

Notts County: L Ashby-Hammond, J Warner (sub C Rawlinson 44), A Baldwin, K Cameron, S Robertson, J O’Brien(sub J Bostock 71), D Crowley, S Austin (sub A Jatta 71), M Langstaff, J Jones, A Nemane. Subs n/u S Slocombe, A Chicksen, L Macari, C Colkett. Booked: O’Brien

Referee: Ollie Yates

Attendance: 7,776 (113 away)