AFC made the short journey to Stoneylands and a game against the newly promoted ‘Villagers’. The pitch was looking the best seen at the venue in a very long time and credit to groundsman Ivan Whitehart and his helpers.

Sudbury manager Jamie Godbold gave two triallists, one unknown to AFC followers and the other well known; the two played in the full back positions, on the right was Harry Coe, who until recently was playing academy football in Spain, and on the left was Robbie Martin who made many appearances for AFC before returning to his former club Harlow Town.

Both sides started brightly, but AFC were in control of matters. Ollie Canfer saw Mansfield in the home goal make a good blocked save after some good build up play.

Melford countered and Bayliss and Harris combined on the left side and the latter sent in a shot that struck the crossbar. For AFC Jordan Blackwell was looking particularly energetic on the right side, running well with the ball and if he lost it chasing and challenging to regain it.

Blackwell and Liam Wales set up a move that saw skipper Sam Clarke blast a shot that Mansfield did well to save. Clarke then became the villain of the peace as he lost the ball on the halfway line and it was fed out to the left side where Bayliss shot hard across Tibbles in the AFC goal to open the scoring.

Ryan Henshaw up from the central defensive area saw a hard shot go just over before AFC levelled the score a minute before the break. The ball in central area found Craig Parker (pictured) who went thought the Melford defence before delightfully clipping the ball over Mansfield and into the net.

There was a chance for AFC to go in goal up as Blackwell crossed and Wales saw his shot tipped over by Mansfield who had been busy in the Melford goal.

Half Time; - Long Melford 1 AFC Sudbury 1

As is usual in these games, changes were made after the interval, Luke Callander, Ollie Berquez and Wayne Blackman came on.

The good passing football AFC were playing augured well for their supporters, and they were able to do so on the good surface, certainly better than the previous two pitches they played on.

On the hour mark more changes with Henshaw, Baker, Parker and Wales leaving and Kyran Clements and Stefano Mallardo settling in the centre of defence, and Romano Dunn and Jack Newman replacing the other two midfielders.

It was one of the latter substitutes who go the second goal for Sudbury, as Mallardo got the ball out to Blackman who in turn put it back to the defender to score from close range.

Ex-AFC man Steve Adams nearly got on the end of Bayliss cross as the home side brought on other former AFC players in Dan Smith, Jake Jackson and Jamie Griffith. Another Dan Swain got injured in the pre-match warm up.

A third goal a couple of minutes later as Callander on the left side got the ball into the penalty area and Blackman hit it home. Clarke then saw a shot cleared off the line and Blackman hit the crossbar.

The game was played in good spirit and on this showing the home side should more hold their own in their new league. AFC are showing that as the weeks go on they are beginning to gel as a team.

AFC; - Luis Tibbles, Harry Coe, Robbie Martin, Craig Parker (Jack Newman 61), Ryan Henshaw (Clements), James Baker, (Mallardo 61) Ollie Canfer (Luke Callander 46), Sam Clarke, Liam Wales (Romano Dunn 61), Ross Bailey (Ollie Berquez 46), Jordan Blackwell (Wayne Blackman 46)

Att 154

YNOT