The match was to celebrate the footballing career of Paul Betson, he served AFC superbly making 376 appearances and is still the holder of the club’s all time record appearances. He has so far played 218 games for the opposition Newmarket Town and this was an ideal game for the task.

AFC despite having another fixture on the same evening put out a strong first eleven supplemented with some of the club’s excellent young academy players. The game was played at the newly named Ridgeons Stadium and on the newly laid 3G pitch.

The home side with Betson playing at left back took the lead after five minutes with Thurlbourne firing home, the ball going in off the post giving Callum Robinson no chance.

Sudbury equalised soon afterwards when a Jack Newman corner found Tyler French who slid the ball home from close range. Craig Avery came on for AFC and slotted in at left back with only twelve minutes on the clock.

The visitors went in front when Sam Bantick and Liam Wales forced ex-AFC keeper Ben Nower to save the ball going to Luke Callander before Bantick scored.

Newmarket levelled on twenty-eight minutes when Holder got his head to the ball at the far post with it creeping over the line. Robinson in the AFC saved well before Betson marauded down the wing belying his age and put in a great cross.

The sides went in level at the break.

Half-Time; - Newmarket Town 2 AFC Sudbury 2

In a busy second period AFC ran out comfortable winners with Bantick and Callander (pictured) looking sharp throughout the forty-five minutes.

It was however ‘The Jockeys’ who scored the next goal with Bowen allowed a free header from a corner, this ten minutes into the half.

Callander had two good efforts one a low shot on the turn the other a hard shot following a corner.

Just after the hour mark, Newmarket introduced four substitutes, three of them ex-AFC players, in Andy Claydon, Lee Owen and Ricky Cornish.

AFC countered a few minutes later with five subs, with Danny Cunningham, Tom Dettmar, Harry Allinson, Callum Hanson and Joe Wright replacing, Tyler French, Wayne Blackman, Jack Newman, Liam Wales and Jordan Blackwell.

Cunningham was soon in the action crossing the ball and seeing Callander head in powerfully against the crossbar. Ryan Henshaw almost scored with a header from a corner before AFC got level again. Callander shot the ball hit the post and Cunningham was on hand to put it into the back of the net.

Callander again tested Nower who was equal to the task; he was however beaten a few minutes later when the energetic Bantick fired in a shot after a good run down the right and it was deflected in for an own goal.

Callander and Bantick the combined well the latter having his shot saved but the ball went up in the air and there was Harry Allinson to get his head to it score.

The final goal of the night came late on and it was a good one. The build up on the left hand side involved Cunningham and he got the ball to Callander who held off his defender, turned and curled the ball home.

A fitting game for a good and honest player, well done to Paul Betson as he continues his football career.

The game for AFC was a definite improvement on the previous performance and the whole squad worked hard and deserved their victory.

AFC; - Callum Robinson, Ryan Henshaw, sub 12 Craig Avery, Jack Newman (sub Danny Cunningham), Adam Tann, Tyler French (sub 65 Callum Hemson), Sam Bantick, Wayne Blackman (sub 65 Tom Dettmar), Luke Callander, Liam Wales (sub 65 Harry Allinson), Jordan Blackwell (sub 65 Joe Wright)

Att 127

YNOT