A.F.C Sudbury, third in Ryman League Division One North, entertained Barkingside, currently third from the bottom. Last weekend’s 3-1 reverse at Dereham a distant memory, Sudbury needed to get back on track with a convincing win at the Wardale Williams Stadium.

Barkingside kicked off the game attacking from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum Seated Stand. Sudbury began with real purpose, Craig Parker slipped the ball to Kris Newby who switched the ball right to Ben Robinson whose cross was cleared. Calvin Poku threatened the home goal, but James Baker’s stopping tackle put an immediate end to the threat.

Ben Robinson sent a fine ball into Craig Parker from the right wing which the Sudbury number ten hit first time only to see Barkingside ‘keeper Chris Clark turn around his right hand post for a corner. From the corner a Luke Callander header took a deflection for another corner, this time from the left. Kris Newby delivered, and from a the partially cleared corner the ball reached Ryan Henshaw who shot low past Clark to give A.F.C. Sudbury the lead.

Poku again found space on the edge of the home penalty area and once again James Baker brought the attack to a decisive and rapid end. Rigers Kabashi was next to attempt to break the home defence, this time Ollie Berquez provided the telling challenge. Kabashi then squared up a shot from outside the home penalty area, but Marcus Garnham was well placed to gather the ball.

On the quarter-hour Kris Newby swung in a teasing free kick which Clark punched clear. The ball fell to Sam Clarke just outside the penalty area and his first time effort flew over the crossbar. Sudbury were exerting a dominance without threatening, at this stage, to add the necessary lustre to their lead.

Craig Parker found Jordan Blackwell with a superb ball, but a fine challenge by Jonathan Adebayo averted any danger. Luke Callander fell awkwardly in the Barkingside penalty area and for a while it looked as if he may have to be replaced, but the Sudbury number nine managed to run off the knock after some lengthy treatment.

James Baker rose to head clear as Jason Fortune and Matt Frew looked to close in on goal. Tyler Kemp then found Luke Callander who slid the ball into Ben Robinson whose cross was cleared by the Barkingside defence whose work-rate was increasing with the dominant waves of Sudbury possession. The same combination led to Sudbury’s second goal. Tyler Kemp sent a cross-field ball to Ben Robinson whose superb cross was headed home by Luke Callander.

Barkingside’s rare sorties on goal were largely led by Calvin Poku whose next attempt was denied by a block from Ryan Henshaw. On thirty-nine minutes Sudbury were unfortunate not to add a third goal. Tyler Kemp ran from his own half and scythed his way through the Barkingside half before unleashing a shot which Clark did well to hold. Barkingside’s best effort came with four minutes of the half remaining when Fontaine’s shot was tipped over the bar by Marcus Garnham.

On forty-three minutes Ollie Berquez picked up the pieces of a free-kick and drove a fine shot at Clark’s goal. The Barkingside ‘keeper leapt to his right to push the ball away for a corner with a really fine save. Kris Newby’s corner kick was tipped over the bar by the busy Clark before Poku sent a dipping shot over the home crossbar in injury time as the half ended.

Half Time:- AFC Sudbury 2 Barkingside 0

The second half started with Barkingside bossing possession and the game taking on a largely scrappy nature. On fifty-one minutes Ben Robinson’s right wing cross was met with a bullet header by Jordan Blackwell which flashed just wide of the right hand post. On fifty-six minutes James Baker sent a sublime lofted ball into Luke Callander who, despite attention by two Barkingside defenders, sent a first-time lob which fell just wide of the goal.

Sudbury extended their lead with a really excellent goal. Sam Clarke won possession close to the touchline close to halfway on the left wing. He found Luke Callander who in turn crossed for Kris Newby to pick his spot past Clark who was stranded in the visitor’s goal.

Ollie berquez was replaced by Terry Rymer on sixty-four minutes. Callander played a neat one-two with Ben Robinson, but Clark was off his line to gather quickly as the ball just ran too far ahead of Callander. Sudbury sent on Scott Kemp for Kris Newby and Ayrton Coley came on to replace Craig Parker.

Sam Clarke sent a right wing corner fizzing into the Barkingside penalty area which Clark had to punch clear. On seventy-nine minutes Sudbury added a fourth. Sam Clarke’s supreme afternoon continued as he sent Luke Callander pictured) through to add his second and Sudbury’s fourth of the afternoon. Another finely worked goal, but two minutes on Fahad Nyanja found plenty of space on the left wing and picked out Calvin Poku who stabbed home a consolation goal for Barkingside.

Andy Edmunds looked to cut the arrears further, but Sam Clarke again put in the timely and decisive challenge to deny any chance of an opening. Terry Rymer missed a golden opportunity, shooting wide when unmarked in the centre of goal after Luke Callander had breezed through the heart of the Barkingside defence.

Jordan Blackwell ran at red-hot pace at the Barkingside defence, sending a shot just wide of the far post. Right on the final whistle Terry Rymer again broke free, this time he squared the ball to substitute Scott Kemp who tucked the ball into the net to make it 5-1.

A.F.C. Sudbury maintained their Play-Off push with this impressive display in which all players played an important part in a good team performance.

There is no time to rest on laurels at this time of year. The Ryman Road Show moves on to Brightlingsea Regent on Monday afternoon who are currently just outside of the Play-Offs.

Att 276

Richard Whiting