First Game Of Season

This was the first game of the season and after only two training sessions the players acquitted themselves well and looked fit.

The outcome of the game was not the purpose of the exercise but in the end AFC run out convincing winners and in doing do produced some quality football.

Missing five regulars the starting eleven included a triallist goalkeeper in Callum Robinson and Ryan Horne who was previously on loan from Cambridge United in midfield. New signings Rob Eagle, Sam Bantick and Adam Tann (pictured) who captained the side were on show as was Academy boy Sam Mills.

AFC started off on the front foot and were in control of the game with Blackman, Eagle and Mills all having efforts on goal early on. The visitors were being penned back and the AFC produced some neat passing football. Ben Robinson was playing in an unusual role of central defender and Danny Cunningham showed up well in front of the back four.

Histon had only one real effort and that was just before the half time whistle with the ball being fired wide of Robinson in the AFC goal.

Half-Time; AFC Sudbury 0 Histon 0

AFC made three changes at the break with Luke Callander, Stefano Mallardo and Marcus Garnham took over from Bantick, Mills and keeper Robinson.

After six minutes of the half Sudbury were in front. Callander crossed from the left and at the far post was Liam Wales to fire home. This came just after Mallardo had struck the post and Callander had fired over the bar.

The visitors struck back six minutes later when Garnham came out to punch the ball but the Histon forward Simbanda got his head to it first and the ball was in the back of the AFC net.

Ollie Dunlop replaced Wayne Blackman and settled well in midfield and the Bradley Beevis took over from Wales.

Sudbury retook the lead with a great goal. Garnham fed Eagle who got away on the left and put fine cross and there in the middle was Callander to head home powerfully.

Cunningham went off after taking a knock and Manager Jamie Godbold introduced himself to the fray and produced several telling passes, non more so than for the third goal. The diminutive AFC leader slid the ball inside the full back and found Eagle on the left wing, the former Lowestoft man crossed an there was Beevis to slot the ball into the Histon goal.

The final whistle went and it meant the end of the first ninety minutes of the season and a first victory.

AFC, Callum Robinson (sub 46 mins Marcus Garnham), Sam Mills (sub 46 mins Stefano Mallardo) Jack Wilkinson, Danny Cunningham (sub 76 mins Jamie Godbold) Ben Robinson, Adam Tann, Sam Bantick (sub 46 mins Luke Callander) Ryan Horne, Liam Wales (sub 70 mins Brad Beevis), Wayne Blackman (sub 65 mins Ollie Dunlop) Rob Eagle.

Attendance 133

YNOT