Finley Barbrook’s first goal for Sutton United was enough to seal victory over Maidenhead United, ending a run of five games without a win at home.

The U’s enjoyed most of the chances on goal throughout the first half and opened the scoring through Barbrook after a wonderful team move saw Jeremy Sivi breeze past Owen Cochrane and pick out Will Davies in the box, who took a touch before teeing up the Ipswich Town loanee on the edge of the box who stroked a superb strike into the bottom corner.

While chances would be few and far in the second half, Steve Morison’s remained incredibly firm with Jack Sims barely having a save to make, securing a crucial three points at home.

Victory means Sutton jump up to 11th in the Vanarama National League table, and are on the road once more next Saturday with a long trip up to Yorkshire to take on FC Halifax Town.

Three changes to the side saw midfielders Jayden Harris and Lewis Simper remain absent through injury, while Dillon De Silva missed out due to an international call-up to feature in Sri Lanka’s squad for two FIFA World Series matches against Yemen. Edwin Agbaje also dropped out after going off against Rochdale last weekend, with  Jack Wadham returning from his loan from Worthing and straight into the starting XI along with Ashley Nadesan and Sivi.

The first action of the game would see Sutton have an early penalty shout after Nadesan looked to be fouled when through on goal, although the referee was unmoved.

The hosts continued to enjoy the better of things early on though, with some neat interplay on the wing seeing Josh Coley receive the ball in the penalty area before having a driven effort saved by Craig Ross in the Maidenhead net.

The returning Wadham then delivered a wonderful free kick into the box towards Davies who poked his effort just wide of the post, moments before Coley sent an inch-perfect cross into the box with Davies once again hitting just wide under pressure from the opposing defenders.

This preceded another opening for the hosts, and saw the U’s take the lead in style. Sivi did well on the wing to beat Cochrane and pick out Davies in the box, who held the ball up before teeing up Barbrook who hammered his effort into the bottom corner.

Maidenhead responded with their first sight of goal as a wishful effort saw Tristan Abrahams twist and turn before hitting his effort well over Sims.

The last action of the first half saw Nadesan drive down the right flank before playing the ball to Davies, who’s effort was palmed into the path of Barbrook who smashed his effort at goal, with Miles Welch-Hayes producing a superb last ditch challenge to get it clear, and meant the U’s went into the break with a narrow lead.

Chances would dry up after the restart, although the U’s continued to maintain control. Sivi had the first real effort of the second half when his powerful shot cannoned off a Maidenhead defender, before Coley produced an even better attack, as a neat flick saw him break through the lines before finding himself in space on the right flank, but nobody was on hand in the middle to meet his delivery.

Sutton would see their best chance of the second half soon after, when Wadham intercepted a back pass and carried the ball forward before drilling a cross towards Coley, who’s effort was somehow stopped by Ross with a superb reaction save.

Looking to see out the victory, Morison looked to reassure his defence with Hayden Muller making his return to the VBS Community Stadium after recovering from his injury, replacing  Sivi who was forced off with a knock.

This seemed to have the desired effect, and although a late Maidenhead corner fell to Joseph Ajose who’s speculative effort is curled high and wide, the U’s were able to see out the victory in front of a noisy home crowd.

Sutton United: J Sims; T French, A Kirk, C Waller; J Coley (sub N Boateng 90+3), F Barbrook, S Odelusi, J Sivi (sub H Muller 84); A Nadesan; J Wadham; W Davies. Subs n/u S Arnold, C Okoli, H Ransom, M Rush, E Vaz.

Maidenhead United: C Ross; W De Havilland, K Lokko, T Latty-Fairweather, S McCoulsky, K Ferdinand, C Pettit, R Smith, O Cochrane (sub R Clerima 74), M Welch-Hayes (sub J Ajose 83), T Abrahams. Subs n/u H Collins, R Carvalho, A Massey, S Barratt, J Dundas. Booked: Latty-Fairweather.

Referee: Alan Dale

Attendance: 2,905(113 away)