A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed F.C. Romania to the Wardale Williams Stadium in the F.A Cup 1st Qualifying Round. F.C. Romania were founded in 2006 and play their matches in Cheshunt, competing in the Essex Senior League. The visitors brought a camera crew along as well as a large following with flags and drums, determined to enjoy their journey in the greatest domestic cup competition in the world.

F.C. Romania kicked off the game attacking from left to right as seen from the Brian Tatum Stand. In the opening minute Lee Flynn shepherded the ball back to Alex Archer in the home goal as Gabi Tudosa applied the pressure for the visitors. Ayrton Coley put the Romania’s defence under pressure a minute later, but a fine tackle from Stefan Dumbrava thwarted the danger.

F.C. Romania grabbed an early lead after just five minutes. Ion Costache broke free on the left wing and delivered a pin-point cross for Sorin Bugiu to head home. Sudbury responded with Ayrton Coley breaking fast along the left wing, his cross however, was blocked by Dragos Ciolca. Andre Baciu found his name in the book for a foul on Michael Shinn on half way. Shinn delivered the resultant set-piece, but the ball was easily headed clear.

Kris Newby sent a teasing cross from the left wing into the Romania penalty area, but ‘keeper Nicursor Banica rose well to claim. Petru Petaru found some space in the Sudbury penalty area, but his shot was easy for Alex Archer to gather. A.F.C. Sudbury drew level on fourteen minutes. Kris Newby sent a fine ball into the path of Ayrton Coley who defeated the offside trap and rounded Banica to slot cooly home. On nineteen minutes Payton Swatman crossed for Kris Newby to head past Banica, but joy was short lived as the linesman’s flag had been raised.

Sudbury enjoyed a good period of pressure without creating too many openings. On twenty-four minutes the home side were handed a huge advantage when Ayrton Coley was brought down when clear through on goal by Ion Costache. Costache was shown the red card and began the long trudge back to the changing rooms.

Banica did well to push a Michael Shinn free-kick wide of the right hand post on twenty-six minutes and the visitor’s defence had to be quick when Lee Flynn sent a fine ball at pace into Kris Newby who flicked the ball onto Jack Wilkinson. Wilkinson’s cross was blocked and cleared with the defenders desperately sending the ball up the field.

F.C. Romania had a thirty-fifth minute free-kick from Petru Petaru blocked by James Baker playing in an unfamiliar role at the heart of the home defence with injuries and suspensions taking their toll. Lee Flynn’s thirty-eighth minute corner from the right wing fell for Jack Wilkinson just outside the penalty area and his shot went just over the crossbar. Ayrton Coley’s industrious half continued when he won a corner kick after latching onto a long ball from defence by Lawrence Yiga. Michael Shinn delivered from the left and James Baker rose to head goal-wards only for Banica to parry the ball to safety. Sam Clarke put a great stopping tackle in on Cornel Cornea on half-way as the whistle sounded for the break with the sides level.

Half-Time AFC Sudbury 1 FC Romania 1

A.F.C. Sudbury replaced Stefano Mallardo at the break with new signing from Ards FC, Correy Davidson coming into the action. Sudbury won a free-kick in the opening minute of the half, Lee Flynn’s delivery skimming off the head of the rising James Baker and falling behind for a goal-kick. On fifty-three minutes Petru Petaru broke free only for Alex Archer to produce a fabulous save to push the ball wide of his right hand post allowing James Baker to finally clear.

F.C. Romania were enjoying the baulk of possession despite their one man disadvantage, Sorin Bugiu worked enough space to beat Archer with a low shot, but James Baker was able to clear the ball ahead of the goal-line. On fifty-six minutes Jake Reed was brought on to replace Jack Wilkinson for the home side who were struggling to make their man advantage count.

James Baker slipped on the edge of the home penalty area and Bugiu sent the ball wide of the A.F.C. Sudbury goal when well placed. Sudbury substitute Correy Davidson did well on the left wing, his cross being firmly headed clear by Dumbrava. Dumbrava then fouled Davidson just outside the Romania penalty area. Lee Flynn sent a stinging free-kick just wide of the diving Banica’s right-hand post as Sudbury looked to get their noses in front in this tense F.A. Cup tie.

F.C. Romania re-took the lead on seventy-two minutes. Lawrence Yiga’s mistake at the back let in Petru Petaru who finished past Alex Archer with aplomb.

With ten minutes remaining A.F.C. Sudbury replaced substitute Correy Davidson, who was suffering from a dead leg, with Jordan Blackwell. Claudiu Vilcu sent a speculative long-range effort just over the home goal with the ball rolling from the roof of the net and safely behind for a goal-kick. Bugiu again found acres of space in the home penalty area, but Alex Archer’s fine save kept Sudbury’s interest in the F.A. Cup alive, albeit temporarily.

Sudbury piled forward in search of the equaliser and on ninety minutes it nearly came. Lee Flynn’s superb delivery of a corner form the right wing found its way to James Baker whose shoot from eight yards was brilliantly saved by F.C. Romania goal-keeper Nicursor Banica. In injury-time James Baker headed into the path of Kris Newby whose shot was somehow saved on the line by Banica as claims that the ball had crossed the line were waved away.

Five minutes into stoppage time, F.C. Romania substitute Lazar Kumanov took full advantage of A.F.C. Sudbury’s desperate search for an equaliser and broke free to slot home a third for the visitors and end home dreams of a cup run for another season.

Att 290

Richard Whiting