Sutton manager Steve Morison admitted he could not understand how his side had failed to beat Colchester following an entertaining 1-1 draw at the VBS Community Stadium.
Midfielder Cameron McGeehan fired the visitors into a welcome seventh-minute lead, but Lakin levelled for the home side just 11 minutes later with a cool finish.
Harry Smith then saw his 80th-minute penalty superbly saved by goalkeeper Owen Goodman, who made sure the visitors claimed a precious point on the road.
“I’m gutted to be standing here without the win,” said Morison.
“We’re desperate to get a win, the players are trying their hardest and leaving it all out there [on the pitch] for the football club.
“That’s all we can ask and I’m proud of what they put out there today. I’m just gutted we didn’t get the win.
“We had big enough chances and big enough moments in the game to win it, but I wish I had a different answer to why we didn’t.
“We had a clearance off the line and their keeper saved a penalty so, yeah, it’s just where we’re at the minute.
“We have to hold on to the fact that performances come first and hopefully the results will come.
“I wish I could put my finger on exactly why the ball isn’t going into the back of the net, but if you keep creating chances the old saying of ‘you need one to go in off your backside and it will start to run’, well hopefully that happens.
“The most frustrating thing is how poor the goal was we conceded. It was just so easy for them to score the goal. We’ve got to be better than that and we weren’t.
“But from that moment I thought we stuck to our task and we gave a good showing of ourselves. We had the big moments, but we just couldn’t quite get over the line.”
Colchester manager Danny Cowley admitted Sutton had proved tough opposition, saying: “I thought it was a really hard-fought game.
“Sutton United are a really awkward opponent, I’ve found them to be the most awkward team to play against since I joined the club.
“They played quickly with real purpose. They put balls into your box at every opportunity and really make you defend. You really have to stand up.
“The pitch is a challenge, but I think our goal showed that if you do connect passes you can have success and you can play some good football and score a good goal.
“They’ll be pleased with their goal of course, but from our point of view we’re disappointed.
“We always want to win, but you’ve got to respect your opponent. Sutton are a good side.”
Inter Miami 1-0 D.C. United: Super-sub Campana seals late win
Inter Miami snatched a 1-0 win over D.C. United thanks to Leonardo Campana’s stoppage-time strike.
Campana had an instant impact after coming on in the 93rd minute as he volleyed in the winner just 25 seconds later.
Lionel Messi returned from a knee injury that kept him out against Orlando City but struggled to have his usual impact as Miami only managed eight shots.
Cristian Dajome had come closest to scoring for D.C. minutes after his introduction, but his dipping shot sailed over the bar.
Miami remain a point clear of FC Cincinnati at the top of the Eastern Conference, while D.C. sit ninth, a huge 14 points behind the league leaders.
Data Debrief: Miami continue to set the pace
Miami left it late to get back to winning ways but extended their unbeaten run to nine games. It is their longest run without defeat in the competition.
D.C. have now conceded eight goals in the last 15 minutes of the second half - only Montreal (10) and San Jose Earthquakes (10) have conceded more in that time in the MLS this season.
Montero to coach Juventus until end of the season
Paolo Montero will take charge of Serie A side Juventus for the remainder of the season following the dismissal of Massimiliano Allegri.
Juventus sacked their former head coach Allegri on Friday over his behaviour during and after this week's Coppa Italia final in which he was sent off, ending a long period of speculation over his future.
Montero, who coaches Juventus' Under-19s team, will take charge for their remaining two matches, at Bologna on Monday and against Monza at home on May 26.
The 52-year-old Uruguayan won four Serie A titles playing for Juventus as a defender from 1996 to 2005 and will take his first training session on Sunday.
"Paolo is a Juventus legend, firstly on the pitch, and someone who has long been a bearer of the club's DNA on the bench," Juve said in a statement.
"Best of luck, Paolo!"
Juve are assured of Champions League qualification but could still finish between third and fifth in Serie A this season.
Al-Nassr 1-1 Al-Hilal: Mitrovic scores last-gasp penalty
Aleksandar Mitrovic scored a penalty in the 10th minute of second-half stoppage time as Al-Hilal denied Cristiano Ronaldo's Al-Nassr victory in a 1-1 draw.
Mitrovic netted his 27th Saudi Pro League goal of the campaign after Sadio Mane was harshly judged to have fouled Saud Abdulhamid in the area.
Mane stuck out an arm to shield the ball, catching his opponent in the throat, though the contact appeared to have been outside of the box.
Mitrovic made no mistake to keep Al-Hilal's unbeaten campaign going.
The Serbian's spot-kick cancelled out Otavio's first-minute opener, with Ronaldo having set up his compatriot.
Champions Al-Hilal remain 12 points clear of Al-Nassr at the summit of the Pro League standings.
Data Debrief: Ronaldo the provider
Ronaldo leads the scoring charts in Saudi Arabia this season, though he had to settle for an assist on Friday.
That came from the only chance he created, with the 39-year-old limited to 25 touches, though he did have four shots.
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