Sutton and Epsom were edged out 28-27 by Thanet Wanderers on Saturday.

This London Division 1 match at Wanderers on Saturday was a real end to end thriller with both teams looking for their first win of the season.

Both sides put in 100% effort and either could have taken the victory.

In the end Thanet Wanderers sneaked the win in the final minute.

Sutton started the game playing down Thanet’s sloping pitch and dominated the early exchanges without scoring but Thanet came back strongly and on five minutes took the lead when fly-half Neil Roby kicked a penalty.

Sutton continued to dominate after this spreading the ball wide at every opportunity and stretching the Thanet defence but it was not until the 25th minutes that they levelled the score when Sutton’s scrum half Frankie Murray kicked a penalty.

Sutton went ahead on the half hour when flying centre Andy Nicholl scored the first try of the game. Murray converted for Sutton to lead 3-10.

Thanet had the last word in the half when following a lengthy spell of pressure on Sutton’s line flanker Simon Harris crashed over. Roby missed the conversion and Sutton turned round at the break 8-10 up.

Thanet continued to play mainly through the forwards after the restart and Harris drove in for his second try for Thanet to re-take the lead.

His try was unconverted and within four minutes Sutton were back in front when Nicholls raced in for his second try which Murray duly converted.

Murray put the visitors further ahead shortly after with a well taken penalty but a try from Thanet’s replacement prop Jon Walker-Smith converted by Roby soon levelled the scores again.

Roby followed this up with a penalty to give Thanet a 3 point lead.

With 20 minutes to go the game became a little scrappy but some great scavenging by Sutton’s centre Steve Warnham saw him intercept a Thanet pass and run in under the posts.

Murray converted and with eight minutes to go Sutton were desperately hanging on against the Thanet forward power when Thanet’s lock Andrew Letts went in on 80 minutes for the winning score.

The conversion was missed but Thanet had a one point victory.

On Saturday Sutton are at home to Dover kick off 3pm at Rugby Lane, Cheam.