Three Points On Their Travels

After their disappointing midweek Suffolk Premier Cup defeat Jamie Godbold’s side turned on the style with one of their better performances of the season to earn a deserved victory thanks to a goal in each half.

Play-off points were very much at stake as Thurrock went into the game in seventh place and very much in contention for a play-off place.

The win extends Sudbury’s unbeaten league run to 12 games and avenged a 6-2 home defeat when the teams met in the reverse fixture earlier in the season.

For the first time for several weeks with suspensions served the manager had his whole squad available with the exception of Sam Clarke who was sidelined with an ankle injury. Goldbold made four changes to the side that started in the midweek cup defeat. As expected both Marcus Garnham and Craig Parker, who were cup-tied in that game, returned as did Kris Newby back from suspension. There was a debut for recently signed striker Luke Callander and he made a very impressive start, scoring the first goal, and going close on other occasions.

Sudbury had the better of the early play but it was Thurrock who created the first chance after twelve minutes when a corner was cleared only as far Leslie Thompson who shot through a crowd of players but was denied by a fine block by keeper Garnham and defender Tyler Kemp cleared the dangerous loose ball.

Sudbury went on to have the better of the half and new signing Luke Callander twice threatened before he scored a debut goal with a super strike after forty-one minutes to give his side the lead.

Two minutes later Sudbury had a great chance to double their lead when Jordan Blackwell did well to keep the ball in play and his cross found Ollie Berquez unmarked in the six yard area with the goal at his mercy but he somehow failed to hit the target.

Half time: Thurrock 0 AFC Sudbury 1

The second half followed a similar pattern with the visitors having the better of the play and Thurrock rarely threatened to pierce a sound Sudbury rear guard well marshalled by skipper James Baker.

Sudbury deservedly increased their lead with a second goal after sixty-two minutes when from a fine move Berquez had a fierce shot parried by Rhys Madden in the home goal and Craig Parker latched on to the loose ball to hook home from close range.

There were no further goals but with Thurrock pressing hard Sudbury looked dangerous on the counter attack and home keeper Madden twice made fine saves to deny Blackwell.

In the end it was a superb victory, another clean sheet and no AFC bookings, from a very entertaining game played in front of an above average crowd of 107 thanks to the many travelling supporters.

Att 107

Pat Arbon