Stevenage went ahead midway through the first half with a powerful finish from a striker who had been put through, and doubled the lead just before half time when Junior Eccleston failed to get enough on a header back to Lenny Jones under pressure and the visiting striker lobbed the stranded Jones.

Sutton replied immediately after the break with a superb header from Khyan Edwards in off the bar from an equally good George Vorster cross, but Stevenage restored the two goal advantage with a header from a corner that went in off Jones and the post, and although Vorster and Joden Trickett came close to combining for a goal U’s were unable to recover the deficit.

Team: L Jones, C Lee, A Reeves, L Moore, J Eccleston, D Urpens, K Edwards, C Bell, V Tume, B Lambourne, G Vorster. Subs J Trickett, C Fletcher, F Jamieson, A Tshitenga.

Sutton have an immediate chance to make up for the defeat when the sides meet again at Stevenage on Saturday, at Shephalbury Sports Academy, Broadhall Way, kick off 10.30. With Luton and AFC Wimbledon now assured of the top two places in the final table, U’s need to win both remaining games, the second of which is at the VBS against MK Dons on Tuesday, and then hope Stevenage fail to beat Leyton Orient in their last game next week.