If you are an AFC supporter then in the past couple of months you have seen your team perform well under some difficult conditions and against some difficult opponents.

This game was no different, conditions underfoot were not great, but again credit to groundsman Danny Crosbie for getting the game on, the opposition acted like spoilt children at times and in the end got their just deserts.

Sudbury manager Jamie Godbold has to again make a change, with new signing Craig Parker an absentee with a hamstring problem Josh Kerridge was included.

Early action came from the visitors with Fisher and Thomas both shooting wide of Marcus Garnham’s goal and soon they picked their first of many bookings when Fowler took out Sam Clarke.

AFC got more of a hold on things, but it was Thomas again for Ware who forced Garnham to save low down. Clarke was caught again and it looked as though he may have to go off but he recovered and went on to have a good game.

Jordan Blackwell, having an extended run in the side, did well going down the flank and crossing into the box but there was no Sudbury player there to connect.

It was Blackwell who was instrumental in getting AFC the lead. Fowler tried to play the ball out and it fell to the Sudbury youngster who went forward in the Ware penalty area where keeper Coulton came out and dived at his feet to get the ball, over went Blackwell at the same time and referee Stobbart pointed to the spot. Cue mass surrounding of the referee from the opposition who was never going to change his mind. James Baker stepped up and scored with Coulson diving in the opposite direction of the ball.

Fisher did not agree with any of what had happened and was yellow carded for his actions.

Terry Rymer, leading the line did well getting down the left and crossed but again there was nobody to covert. Neat build up between Kerridge, Rymer and Newby led to the latter firing into the Ware side netting. Newby the picked up yet another needless booking with a flailing arm going into Dacosta’s face, the Ware man collapsing as though he had been punched by a heavyweight boxer.

Half time; AFC Sudbury 1 Ware 0

If the first half had been feisty the second surely was. Only a minute in and Oujdi fouled Blackwell and was booked and shortly afterwards Shehu hauled down Rymer and received similar treatment.

Ware replaced Fisher with Ledula and then they levelled the game. A long ball forward went between the AFC central defenders and there was Thomas to volley home fierce shot giving Garnham no chance.

AFC were then reduced to ten men. James Baker went for a ball with Dacosta and the Sudbury man appeared to go in slightly two-footed. The Ware man made it look worse than it was and his teammates again used the mass confrontation tactics. The referee after consulting with his assistant sent Baker off, only his second ever red card. For getting involved in the hustle and bustle that was connected with the incident Ware’s Thomas was yellow carded.

Kerridge went to join Ryan Henshaw, playing his two hundredth game for AFC, at the heart of the defence. Ware were awarded a free kick on the Sudbury left, it was quickly taken and the ball crossed into the penalty area where Fowler headed gone to give them the lead.

It did not last long. A foul was committed about thirty yards out from the visitor’s goal, for some reason best known to him Shehu kicked the ball some distance away. It resulted in a second yellow and thus a red card to level the playing numbers up. Worse was to follow for the Hertfordshire side, Newby drilled the free kick powerfully into the back of the net to even the scores.

Henshaw was the next player booked as he pushed Thomas out on the side line with twenty minutes to go.

Ben Robinson who has improved as the season has gone on took the ball down the right, Reinis thought he had done enough to defend it but the AFC man battled and managed to cross the ball and there was Terry Rymer (pictured) to put the ball away.

Scott Kemp took over from Newby who took a knock on his knee with ten minutes left. There was then a free kick for Ware just outside the AFC penalty area, with the wall in front of him Thomas struck the ball hard and towards the top left hand corner of the goal, Garnham flew upwards and punched the ball away. A great save indeed.

Ware made another couple of substitutions, and with clock showing eighty-nine minutes AFC had a chance to increase their lead, but Blackwell’s shot struck the post.

Karagul crudely pushed Blackwell in the back and that was another booking for the visitors. AFC ran down the clock by keeping the ball in the corner and after some six minutes of stoppage time the three points were in the bag.

Plenty of talking points, two dismissals, five goals, too many bookings, most totally unnecessary but in the end an AFC victory to remain in fourth place in the Ryman North table.

Att 139

YNOT