AFC Sudbury continued their build up for the current season with the visit of National League Braintree Town to the King's Marsh Stadium. Before the match a moving tribute followed by a minutes applause was paid to former clubman Tony Simpson who had passed away suddenly the previous week and whose family were in attendance.

Sudbury took the lead on 20 minutes when Braintree's Ellul gifted the ball to Panashe Mundawarara who neatly finished past McDonald in the visitors goal.

Braintree were level on 35 minutes as Thompson escaped a vociferous offside appeal to chip Walker in the AFC goal. Within a minute, the visitors were in front when a fierce shot from Mohammed Bettamer from outside the area flew into the bottom corner.

3 minutes into the second period Braintree increased their lead when Rapai threaded the ball through for Grant who drilled it past Walker in the Sudbury goal and on 59 minutes the visitors added a fourth when Bettamer powerfully headed home his second following an Allen corner.

Despite playing a side 3 leagues higher, AFC were passing the ball nicely when they could and continued to close down Braintree throughout the 90 minutes. They were rewarded on 74 minutes when a mistake by Mensah let in Gravett, the youngster slotting home from the edge of the area.

AFC look to build on this performance as an Ipswich Town XI visit on Thursday 19th July with a 7.45pm kick-off.