It was an amazing away day for the Suds as we closed the gap to Hitchin Town to ONE point. We lined up with an unchanged team from the side that beat Coalville a week ago. Bradbrook in goal. Lewis, Cawley, and Dickens at the back. Pinnington, and Tarpey out wide, with Bradley, and Hunter in the middle of the park. Up front, we had Neal, Allen, and Jackson. On the bench, there was welcome return to the squad for Reuben Swann and he sat alongside Oluwatimilehin, Turner, Napa, and Page.

There was a scrappy start to the match, neither side on top immediately, with no clear-cut chances. Ben Hunter, who was captaining the side once again, hit a shot just over the bar, which was the closest in the early minutes either team came. Up the other end, Jack Cawley produced a fine piece of defending on the line, to deny the home side from taking the lead. Simeon Jackson hit a powerful effort into the side netting before Josh Allen forced the goalie into a comfortable save. As a half that will not live long in the memory of any fan came to an end; with the scores level.

Half-Time: Bromsgrove Sporting 0-0 AFC Sudbury

We made one change at the break, as Malachi Napa continued his return to action replacing Joe Tarpey, entering the pitch to his chant from the Sudbury faithful. The half started much like the first had been, quiet (action-wise), scrappy, boring you could say. However, that didn’t stop the Sudbury fans from chanting and singing the entire match from start to finish. Out singing the 450 or so Bromsgrove fans at the Victoria Ground. Magnificent support. There was a moment of panic though, as Bromsgrove hit the bar from a tight angle. We would be the team to take the lead though. Joe Neal did fantastically well and slipped a pass through that Simeon managed to poke home, after it took a slight touch of the ‘keepers glove. I have no clue how he managed to get a touch on it, superb! As we looked to be on course for a second win on the bounce, luck went against us again. The linesman waved his flag for a handball in the penalty area, which the referee agreed with. Bromsgrove’s captain took it... Bradbrook went the right way and SAVED IT sending the Sudbury fans up the other end into utter jubilation! 15 minutes later, after some neat passing Simeon found the ball at his feet, but he was fouled. The ref was about the blow his whistle for a free kick, but Josh Allen picked the ball up, leading to the ref playing one of the best advantages of all time, and Josh Allen fired the ball into the top corner. So much power on that effort, no goalie is stopping it! Causing madness where the away fans were. Six minutes were then added on, before the ref finally blew the whistle, and after some nervous waiting the Hitchin score came through, and we could celebrate closing the gap!

Full-Time: Bromsgrove Sporting 0-2 AFC Sudbury

Well, what an immense performance, Players, Coaches (not the bus type), fans, everybody was incredible, we can actually do this. We were playing with 12 players today, because those fans just did not stop. A football club is built on the fans, and they gave a proper performance. Every single player in that starting 11 was magnificent every player that came off the bench was magnificent. Two weeks ago, the table appeared to look like we were dead and buried, we are not.

UP. THE. SUDS.

By Isaac Mennie