Both sides remained unbeaten after three games but it took a stoppage time equaliser for the visitors to earn a share of the spoils from a six-goal thriller.

Steve Eastaugh was in charge of his final game before the return of manager David Batch and he made one change with Jake Reed starting having had transport difficulties getting to the previous game.

The home side got off to a dream start after only two minutes when Lee Flynn’s left wing cross was headed home by Ollie Hughes from close range.

Within five minutes Thamesmead were level thanks to an own goal when Ryan Henshaw hooked into his own net in his attempt to clear a right wing corner.

Thamesmead took the lead after 21 minutes when a loose ball fell to Stuart Zanone who volleyed home an unstoppable shot from just outside the area.

Thamesmead then squandered two good chances to increase their lead before the break.

Half time: AFC Sudbury 1 Thamesmead Town 2

Early in the second half Craig Pope came close to getting Sudbury on level terms but his bullet header flashed inches wide.

The home side’s positive start to the second period was rewarded after 55 minutes when Payton Swatman’s cross-cum shot was powerfully headed home by Jake Reed.

Four minutes later Sudbury took the lead for the second time with a super strike from Flynn following a fine left wing move.

AFC continued to look the more threatening and Sam Clarke went close with a header and Henshaw got on the end of Flynn’s free kick but his effort just missed the target.

These misses proved expensive as Thamesmead, who had been on the back foot for most of the second half, salvaged a point in stoppage time when the home side failed to clear their lines and Tyrus Gordon-Young lobbed home to level the scores.

Att 257

Pat Arbon