Another Three Points On The Road

After two consecutive home league defeats AFC Sudbury got back to winning ways on their longest away trip to Kent thanks to skipper Sam Clarke’s (pictured) second half goal.

This was an entertaining and sporting game watched by an above average crowd of 140, well refereed by Mr James Whittaker who kept his cards in his pocket.

They saw David Batch’s side dominate but have little luck in front of goal as the woodwork, a goal line clearance and some great saves by the Chatham keeper kept the score down. At the other end Chatham rarely threatened thanks to a sound defensive display and Alex Archer in the Sudbury goal had a quiet afternoon.

Sudbury’s first chance came early on from Ayrton Coley, who was a constant threat to the home defence, but from a break he failed to hit the target. And then a header from Terry Rymer dropped on to the roof of the net. The same player came even closer before half time when a block buster of a shot from 30 yards struck the Chatham crossbar and was scrambled away.

Half time: Chatham Town 0 AFC Sudbury 0

In the second half it was much the same with Sudbury doing most of the pressing.

Rymer looked to have broken the dead lock with a goal bound shot after 51 minutes. He beat the keeper but his shot lacked pace and a defender got back to clear off the line. Kris Newby’s follow up shot brought a great save from the Chatham keeper.

Newby was denied again by another fine save and it began to look as if it was going to be a frustrating afternoon for the Suffolk side. But they kept piling on the pressure and broke the deadlock after 72 minutes with a great strike from Clarke. A feature of the game had been Jack Wilkinson’s long throw-ins into the Chatham penalty area and this time the ball was only cleared as far as Clarke who finished clinically from the edge of the area.

That goal proved to be the winner to extend Sudbury’s fine away league form to four consecutive victories.

Attendance: 140

Pat Arbon