No Final For AFC

A.F.C Sudbury’s Wardale Williams Stadium was swelled with an expectant crowd as Brentwood Town arrived in town for a Wednesday evening Play-Off Semi-Final for the right to compete in the Ryman Premier League in 2015-2016.

With the car parks full, programmes sold out and the refreshment outlets attracting snaking queues, the scene was set for a night of exciting football. With both sides having won in their opponent’s back yard during the regular season, the encounter looked too close to call.

A.F.C. Sudbury kicked off the match attacking from right to left as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. The positive start made by the home side laid down a marker of intent from the off. Craig Parker finding Luke Callander in a central position who sent a stinging shot towards goal which was well saved by Ollie Bowles. Brentwood replied with Sam Bantick surging towards the home goal, only for Jordan Blackwell to supply a timely tackle to end the danger.

The first corner of the night came after four minutes. Kris Newby’s delivery failed to clear the Brentwood defence and was easily headed clear. On six minutes Louis Baucutt in heading back towards his ‘keeper Ollie Bowles, almost let in the Sudbury attack as the Brentwood custodian rushed off his line to gather.

A foul by Ryan Henshaw ten yards into the Sudbury half on the right wing saw Bantick deliver the set-piece dangerously and Marcus Garnham rise to punch forcibly clear. In the thirteenth minute Callander’s superb ball to Kris Newby on the right resulted in a cross which Bowles was alert to grab. Scott Mitchell then sent a long free-kick from half-way on the left wing towards the Brentwood penalty area which the visitor’s defence did well to clear up-field. Brentwood’s next attack saw Sherwin Stanley attacking through the centre of the park where a fine tackle by Craig Parker sent the attack packing as a pleasing end-to-end nature of the game developed.

Bantick sent a free-kick twenty-five yards from goal on the right wing into the epicentre of the Sudbury defence. James Baker, perfectly positioned, rose to send a decisive header well clear of danger. Danny Dafter was perhaps fortunate to escape card censure when he clattered into Craig Parker twenty-five yards from goal. From the resultant free-kick Kris Newby sent the ball scudding low through a crowded penalty area and Ollie Bowles did well dropping to his right to tip the ball behind for a corner. When the ball landed in the penalty area, a scramble ensued and the ball was partially cleared. Craig Parker latched onto the loose ball and sent a sublime shot crashing off the crossbar.

Home dominance became the order of the day as Kris Newby sent a free-kick into the bodies of the Brentwood wall and Luke Callander sent a fine effort just over the crossbar from the deflection.

Ben Robinson burst along the right in a fine, and now trademark, run from which his excellent cross was stabbed clear. Craig Parker then won a corner from which Robinson’s shot took a deflection almost resulting in an own-goal by Louis Baucutt. Brentwood made a late first-half sortie and Sam Clarke’s finely-judged tackle on the impressive Bantick and James Baker’s clearance made sure the teams entered the break on level terms.

Half Time;- AFC Sudbury 0 Brentwood Town 0

Scott Mitchell snuffed out the first Brentwood Town attack of the half with a very good tackle on the ultra-busy Sam Bantick. Martyn Stokes unleashed a storming shot which Marcus Garnham met with a fantastic diving safe. Scott Mitchell denied the on-rushing Shad Ngandu with another tackle from the top draw with Ollie Berquez quickly pouncing on the loose ball to clear intelligently.

Bantick delivered a dangerous free-kick which was headed just wide of the home goal on fifty-four minutes before Mitchell saw yellow in what had emerged as a superb game of attacking football which just lacked that crucial goal. Luke Callander then burst through and Bowles produced another fine save to deny Sudbury the lead with a well-executed block.

On sixty-three minutes Sam Clarke’s swerving shot flew just left of the Brentwood goal. There was action aplenty as Ben Robinson’s cross was missed by Bowles under pressure from Craig Parker and the ball bundled behind for a corner. At the other end Robinson was superb to deny Andrew Freeman as the Brentwood striker threatened the home goal.

On sixty-nine minutes James Love was sent free through the middle, but his effort on goal lacked conviction and dribbled wide with Garnham well-placed to harry the Brentwood mid-field man. James Baker headed Kris Newby’s left wing corner over the crossbar before Luke Callander shot on the turn only to see Bowles again save low to his left.

Ben Robinson freed Jordan Blackwell along the right wing who won a free-kick on the right edge of the penalty area as he raced in on goal and fell to earth. Kris Newby sent a teasing ball into the heart of the penalty area which, amidst an almighty scramble, was cleared off the Brentwood goal-line with a despairing header.

Freeman blasted a free-kick high into the night sky above Marcus Garnham’s goal as the game edged into its last ten minutes of normal time. Jordan Blackwell made way for Terry Rymer with just a couple of minutes on the clock. Rymer, immediately into the pulse and pace of the match, made an intelligent run, but was stopped by a well-judged tackle by Gardner. The whistle sounded for the end of normal time as extra-time ensued.

After Ninety Minutes AFC Sudbury 0 Brentwood Town 0

First Period Of Extra-Time

Josh Kerridge came on for Ollie Berquez as the additional thirty minutes began. Sudbury pressed on once again, attacking with flair and determination. Callander and Parker’s one-two looked promising, but the well-drilled Brentwood defence cleared the danger.

Sam Bantick was booked for simulation in the home penalty area in the ninety-ninth minute as the goals still did not materialise. Kris Newby’s free-kick on one-hundred and two minutes saw another despairing clearance form the Brentford goal-line as the ball still resolutely refused to enter the net. Brentwood came back strongly with a three against two attack which Marcus Garnham sprung from his line to gather.

Second Period Of Extra-Time

Shad Ngandu’s poorly-timed challenge on Sam Clarkr saw the Brentwood number ten receive a second yellow card and his marching orders. It was a committed challenge poorly executed by a tiring player rather than being malicious, but suddenly Sudbury had a man advantage.

Kris Newby delivered the free-kick which Ryan Henshaw met and turned high over the crossbar. Callander sent a shot over the Brentwood crossbar on one-hundred and fourteen minutes. Only a great block on the line by substitute Robson stopped the ball from entering the net following a scramble from a Terry Rymer corner kick.

In the final minute of extra-time, Sam Clarke latched onto the ball just outside the penalty area and fired his first-time effort just over the Brentwood crossbar. The additional time had failed to produce a goal and the game, always pulsating, tense and highly skilled, ended goal-less and so onto spot kicks.

After One Hundred And Twenty Minutes AFC Sudbury 0 Brentwood Town 0

PENALTY SHOOT-OUT

Tom Robinson. Brentwood Town SCORED (1-0)
James Baker. A.F.C. Sudbury SAVED Right, low. (1-0)
Jason Dobbs. Brentwood Town SCORED (2-0) Garnham gets touch, but not enough.
Craig Parker. A.F.C. Sudbury SCORED (2-1)
James Love. Brentwood Town SCORED (3-1)
Kris Newby. A.F.C. Sudbury SAVED Goalkeeper’s knee (3-1)
Martyn Stokes. Brentwood Town SCORED (4-1)

Brentwood Town won 4-1 on penalties

Att 453

Richard Whiting