First Half Show Seals 3 Points in Essex

AFC Sudbury ventured into Essex to face Maldon & Tiptree looking to improve on Saturdays draw. Four first half goals in a fine display of team work saw the tie put to bed early and Sudbury move up the league table.

With a fully fit squad AFC traveled to Maldon & Tiptree, back into the starting XI was Callum Harrison and Joe Whight. After scoring in the last minute on Saturday Callum Harrison was at it again, after a long throw and a poor clearance Harrison latches onto the ball and unleashes a shot low into the net, this was in the second minute. AFC, heads up high continued to push and almost got a second when Billy Holland chipped the ball into the path of Phil Kelly but his shot went into the side netting. Sudbury now looking a completely different team from the weekend chased every ball, Maldon did not have any time to think and mistakes were being made. Then on the second of two corners Daryl Coakley put the ball over the keeper to the far post where Billy Holland jumped high and headed across the keeper into the far corner to make it 2-0 on eleven minutes.
It was all Sudbury now and Joe Whight was unlucky not to score when the keeper tipped his header over the bar. But it only took a few minutes before the third goal came, Phil Kelly was put through and rushed towards the penalty area, as the keeper came out to meet him he coolly lobbed him and wheeled away to celebrate the goal. 3-0 with just 15 minutes on the clock.
The Maldon frustration continued and the ball rarely entered the Sudbury area, when it did it ended with wayward shooting.
Sudbury continued their fast pace and chased every ball, this came to fruition when Harrison mugged the Maldon left back 20 yards out, calmly drove into the area and slotted the ball across the keeper and into the net. 4-0 with just over half and hour played. This was the performance that had been waiting to burst out. Maldon did well to stem the tide and managed to go in at half time without conceding any more goals.

The second half was different, Maldon had started the faster, they did have have the ball in the net from a corner but the whistle had already gone for a foul in the area. Sudbury's attitude was the same thought, chase every ball, close their opponents down. Again, Harrison almost scored when he closed the keeper down and managed to block the clearance, rebounding just wide. Jordan Blackwell almost joined the scoresheet but his effort just wide and into the side netting. With 25 minutes left AFC started to make some changes, Whight was replaced by Joe Grimwood, Paul Hayes replaced Blackwell. Mark Morsley then used the final period with some interesting formations. Striker Hayes, slotting into centre back as he played 5 at the back, Ben Hunter then replaced Tom Dettmar. This formation worked well, chances for Maldon were limited to a minimum and it was indeed Sudbury who should have scored further when Kelly's shot was inches wide and into the side netting.
The final whistle blew and the travelling Sudbury fans applauded their team.
A crowd of 108 watched the match and the "unofficial" MOTM was given to Callum Harrison