Bad Day At The Office

AFC went into this game on the back of a midweek victory away at Heybridge and must have had hope of making it six points in five days. The start they had made it look likely, but in the end it was not to be and not to be in a big way.

Manager David Batch was able to recall central defender Craig Pope after his suspension ended but was still without two other sin Lawrence Yiga and Ryan Henshaw. This meant striker James Baker continuing at the back. Correy Davidson was given his first start and Ryan Maxwell was able to start after his hamstring injury. On the bench was new signing from Haverhill Rovers, Ben Robinson.

The game got of to a dramatic start with AFC scoring within the first thirty seconds. Davidson crossed from the left. Thurrock keeper fumbled the ball and Michael Shinn got the ball to Kris Newby who shot home.

Five minutes later the visitors were level when following a break away Clark fed Wall who scored. Sudbury responded with a Shinn free kick curling just wide of the far post. Davidson was looking lively and got in another cross but this time Newby shot weakly at the far post.

Sam Clarke received a booking from referee Cook a former AFC reserve team player. On twenty-seven minutes a long ball forward was chested down to Stimson who lobbed the ball over Alex Archer to give Thurrock the lead.

A Lee Flynn corner on the right found Baker who got up well only to see his header strike the woodwork. Maxwell had to go off with a seeming re-occurrence of his hamstring injury and Jack Guyton came on in his place, and was soon in the action winning a corner, and then having a shot saved by Walker.

Half time; AFC Sudbury 1 Thurrock 2

Thurrock looked the more confident side soon after the break, Wall having a shot saved well by Archer who stuck out his left leg to deny him. The Essex side soon made it 3-1 when Warner shot home from a tight angle. It soon became a three-goal advantage, as on the hour mark Wall netted his second goal of the game.

AFC pulled a goal back as Newby crossed rom the right and at the far post Davidson (pictured) got his head to it and scored his first goal for the club. It was a glimmer of hope, that was soon extinguished as Thurrock scored a fifth as Warner had time and space to put the ball in the back of the net. Ryan Hervel had replaced Clarke on the hour mark.

Shinn for AFC picked up a booking before Onyemah out on the left curled in a sixth goal for the visitors. Robinson was introduced for his debut with Swatman going off.

With fifteen minutes left a Shinn corner found Baker who headed against the crossbar, a repeat of his previous effort. Newby failed to take advantage of a defensive mix up with his shot going into the side netting. Thurrock replied with a Stimson shot hitting the AFC post.

In the last few minutes Baker headed down at a corner and Ayrton Coley had two shots blocked.

The final whistle went and it had been a really bad day at the office for AFC who must re-group and go again against Dereham in the next game

Att 190

YNOT