Comfortable Progress

Emirates F.A. Cup action at the Wardale Williams Stadium coming hot on the heels of a crowded August league programme which had seen twelve points amassed from the first six matches for A.F.C Sudbury. The unbeaten start was to be put to the test by neighbours Halstead Town, three steps below A.F.C Sudbury in the football pyramid. There was £3,000 at stake for the winners progressing to the Second Qualifying Round, and thus the scene was set.

The home side kicked off with a full strength line-up, emphasising the importance placed on the grand old trophy and its attendant price pot. A breezy afternoon threatening rain saw the home side attacking the town end of the ground and looking to get off to a good start to settle against their Essex opposition. It was an explosive opening minute. Luke Callander finding Sam Bantick on the right and his stinging cross-come-shot flashed just wide of Joe Fowler’s left hand post. Rob Eagle sent a fabulous ball right to Bantick whose trickery won his side the opening corner of the match from the right wing. Eagle delivered low and the Halstead defence cleared with some comfort.

Sudbury were in charge of the ball and posing an ever increasing threat. It was in the tenth minute that their dominance paid off. Rob Eagle combined with Jack Wilkinson whose fine ball saw Luke Callander clear and he sent an exquisite lob over Joe Fowler and into the net.

Sam Cripps’ mazy run was snuffed out by Ryan Henshaw before the tricky number nine posed another problem for the home defence, this time James Baker shepherding him wide of goal and away from danger. At the other end Rob Eagle cut the ball back into the path of Aaron Greene whose shot flashed just wide of the right hand post. Jordan Hutchings threatened to break through the heart of the home defence, but Sam Clarke’s superb stopping tackle killed the advance stone dead.

AFC kept up the relentless pressure. Sam Bantick’s free-kick from a central position a few yards outside the penalty area deflected off the wall for a left wing corner. Rob Eagle’s delivery was low, easily cleared and Ben Robinson had to be quick to stop the advancing Sam Cripps with a fine tackle.

On twenty-four minutes the industrious Cripps fired wide and high of Marcus Garnham’s goal, the Sudbury ‘keeper enjoying a far quieter-than-average afternoon between the posts for A.F.C. Sudbury. Jordan Hutchings tried to break the shackles, but Ryan Henshaw this time provided the covering intervention with great skill with Jack Wilkinson clearing the danger.

Craig Parker cleared Jordan Hutchings’ promising cross, but Halstead were finding life tough attempting to test the home side with any potency at the business end. Desperate defending by Halstead saw Aaron Greene and Rob Eagle denied a chance in a melee on thirty-five minutes as the margin remained at just the single goal. Resistance finally, and perhaps inevitably, crumbled on thirty-seven minutes. Ben Robinson’s right wing run seeing a driven cross fall to Sam Bantick who lashed the ball past Fowler.

Just four minutes later and it was three with Sam Clarke finding Rob Eagle who cut the ball into the path of Luke Callander who made no mistake in putting the game beyond Halstead. Sam Bantick whipped a twenty-three yard shot at goal which Fowler turned around the post for a corner kick from the right wing. From the resultant corner a scramble saw a James Baker effort blocked.

Just as the half was ending Jack Wilkinson did well on the left before the ball found Luke Callander on the right who managed somehow to tenaciously beat his defender to send a speculative lob wide of Fowler’s goal.

Half-Time AFC Sudbury 3 Halstead Town 0

Within the first minute of the half Luke Callander turned home a left wing cross to claim a fine hat-trick with the Halstead Town defence lost at sea.

Joe O’Hare tried to respond with a mazy run, but James Baker robbed him with ease with Jack Wilkinson on hand to develop the ball up the park for the rampaging home side. Aaron Greene’s teasing cross delivered at pace was punched clear by Fowler. Substitute Matt Crick headed high over Marcus Garnham’s goal as Halstead briefly posed a threat, but it was 5-0 a moment later when an excellent advantage was played with Luke Callander being held in the penalty area, but his strength held sway and he shot past Joe Fowler to claim his fourth goal of the afternoon.

Halstead continued to work hard, much to their credit, Hutchings heading just wide on fifty-three minutes. Five minutes later and Sudbury made a rare triple substitution. Jack Wilkinson, Rob Eagle and four goal hero Luke Callander made way for Jack Newman, Jordan Blackwell and Liam Wales respectively. This was to prove a master-stroke of substitution. Ryan Henshaw crossed superbly from the right for Jordan Blackwell to mark his first touch with a well-taken goal.

A minute late and Halstead would have reduced the deficit, but for the brilliance of Marcus Garnham, leaping to tip over the crossbar, and his clean sheet remained intact. Sam Cripps worked space to send a shot at the home goal, but it is difficult to beat Garnham from any range, and this was food and drink to the excellent A.F.C. Sudbury ‘keeper.

Fuller rose to grab Ben Robinson’s cross after great interplay between Craig Parker and Sam Bantick as the home side looked to add further to their tally. Sam Bantick’s sixty-sixth minute right wing corner fell to an un-marked James Baker whose header went high over the crossbar as the promised rain lashed down. Sam Bantick then had a shot rebound off Craig Parker as the relentless pressure continued against a tiring Halstead side.

Liam Wales had a goal chalked off for offside with five minutes remaining, but to their credit Halstead kept the home side from adding to the score as A.F.C. Sudbury cruised into the second qualifying round draw.

An entertaining game in which A.F.C. very efficiently disposed of their lower league opposition who nevertheless played their hearts out in a very well contested derby match which was played in superb spirits.

A.F.C. Sudbury welcome Tonbridge Angels to the Wardale Williams Stadium next Saturday before a League Cup encounter with Lowestoft Town on Tuesday 13th September. If that game is anywhere near as exciting as the league encounter at Crown Meadow on Bank Holiday Monday, it will be a treat.

Att 420

Richard Whiting