Sutton United showed great resolve in coming from behind to secure a National League point at home to Eastleigh last Saturday and staving off a spirited fightback from Ryman Premier League side Worthing to progress to the third round of the FA Trophy on Tuesday night.

With injuries and suspensions ruling several key players out, and with one eye on the Leeds United FA Cup clash, manager Paul Doswell had to use the full depth of his squad and was forced to play some of his team in unfamiliar positions.

Matt Tubbs scored his second goal for Sutton with 17 minutes left at the weekend to earn a deserved draw against Eastleigh in front of 2,179 supporters, the club’s highest home league crowd of the season so far.

United’s focus turned to the FA Trophy on a bitterly cold Tuesday night where goals by Craig McAllister and Dean Beckwith put the home side into a commanding 2-0 lead against Worthing.

But the Sussex high-fliers hit back on 73 minutes when former Sutton man Sam Rents fired low past goalkeeper Ross Worner to set up a nervy finish.

With seconds remaining and with many supporters edging toward the warmth of the clubhouse, the visitors were awarded a penalty for what appeared to be a rather soft infringement in the box.

Lloyd Dawes kept his nerve to equalise and take the game into extra time.

Despite Worthing’s never-say-die spirit, the U’s stuck to the task and eventually won the game thanks to Adam May’s low drive in the 101st minute.

Doswell said: “When the referee gave Worthing a soft penalty in the 93rd minute, most teams would have crumbled but we just kept going and had the better chances in extra time.

“I’ve got to give enormous credit to our players. I thought it was a remarkable effort by the team to keep going.

“At one stage our back four had Max Felloni from the academy who’d never played at right-back before, Adam May who is not a centre-half and Bedsente Gomis who is not a left-back.

“We had to ask who feels they can play centre-back because no-one could actually play there.

“In the end we had Craig Dundas and Kevin Amankwaah there and moved May back into midfield which was a masterstroke because he was sensational.

“He’s got better with every game and it was fitting that he scored the winner.

“It’s remarkable this team has got through the tie. Worthing are a good side and we’d have struggled to have beaten them with our normal starting line-up.

“I didn’t want Dan Fitchett, Matt Tubbs and Dan Spence all playing 120 minutes, that was never in the game plan.

“Sometimes you have an interest in two competitions – the league and the cup – but as much as we wanted to get through, what you’ve seen tonight is the third competition having an impact.”

United's reward for beating Worthing is a home tie against fellow National League side Boreham Wood on February 4.