Norfolk Visitors Take The Points

AFC went into this game on the back of two successive home defeats, one in the league the other in the FA Cup; at the end of the game it was three defeats as the visitors scored at the beginning and end of this game.

Manager David Batch paraded new signing Terry Rymer, (pictured) signed from FC Clacton in attack and was able to recall Lawrence Yiga who took up a midfield role. The other recent signing Ben Robinson started the game at right back with James Baker still in central defence. Michael Shinn was on the sidelines.

The visitors started strongly and got into the box down their right hand side in the first minute and in the third did so again this time earning a penalty. Lee Flynn was adjudged to have pulled back Hawkins and a spot kick was awarded. Tuttle stepped up to shoot past Archer in the AFC goal.

With nine minutes gone Flynn was replaced by Wilkinson, the former suffering a hamstring problem.

There then was a then a period of play with neither side troubling the goalkeepers. New boy Rymer just after the half hour mark got in a shot that went just past the Dereham post.

Ex-AFC man Craig Bussens had a great chance to put is team two up after thirty–eight minutes, breaking away and bearing down on the Sudbury he was put under pressure and luckily fired over.

Half time; AFC Sudbury 0 Dereham Town 1

Sam Clarke who had been delayed by traffic problems took over from Yiga at the start of the half. Dereham produced the first danger with Blake-Tracy bursting into the box with the ball, fortunately nothing came of it.

AFC countered and on fifty-five minutes Newby crossed, the ball coming out to Wilkinson and he put it back in and Payton Swatman fired over the Dereham bar. Clarke had a shot that was saved by goalkeeper Wilton on the line as AFC were getting far more pressure in the game.

Newby got to the right hand bye-line and got in a cross that eluded everyone, the Sudbury forward was then upended on the right hand side just outside the penalty area. The free kick came to nothing.

On sixty-five minutes the Norfolk side were awarded another penalty. Craig Pope, in the referee’s eyes committed a foul in the box on Hilliard, Roberts took the kick but fired over.

There was fracas after Archer dived at the feet of Hilliard with the visitor being booked for the challenge. A minute later with AFC on the attack and the ball on the right wing, Kris Newby allegedly felled Hawkins in penalty area, the referee producing a red card for the Sudbury man.

Robinson for AFC made a good run into the opposition penalty area before at the other end Baker who had been strong all night got in another good tackle. Rymer tried a long range shot before Davidson had a shot saved low down by Wilton.

Eastoe-Smith fouled Clarke on the right edge of the Dereham area the free kick when taken appeared to be handled in the visitor’s wall but the appeals were waved away.

The game was wrapped up on ninety minutes when following a short corner Borrer got to the six yard box and fired the ball low with it slithering under Archer’s diving body.

In stoppage time the Dereham crossbar was struck by Rymer’s rising shot, it was the closest the home side got to scoring.

It 's an away game for AFC next, perhaps that will see a change of fortunes.

Att 162

YNOT