S-Club 7

It was a day that will live long in the memory for AFC Sudbury fans as we win by six goals for the first time since 2018. We made one change, Malachi Napa made his first start since returning from injury, he replaced Joe Tarpey. So, we had Bradbrook in goal, Lewis, Cawley, Dickens at the back. In midfield Pinnington and Napa were out wide, with Hunter, and Bradley in the centre. In attack, we had Neal, Allen, and Jackson. On the bench, Romario Dunne returned to the squad after his four-game suspension, and he sat alongside Oluwatimilehin, Turner, Page, and Swann.

The Suds started fantastically, setting an early pace, winning early corners, with Jacob Pinnington darting down the right hand side, before unleashing a powerful stop that was well saved. However, the visitors began to come into the game, and they had the ball in the net, but the flag went up, after the attacker, who tapped in after a great save by Bradders, was offside. We took the lead though. Josh Allen got the ball on the edge of the area, and despite the goalie getting a hand to the shot, it was too powerful and was fired into the bottom corner. We didn’t lead for long. Following one of many Long Eaton corners in the first half, just inside the penalty area, Jamie Hanson volleyed into the net superbly, ensuring that the two sides would go in level at the break.

Half-Time: AFC Sudbury 1-1 Long Eaton United

With tension in the air during the fifteen minute break, people wondered what the second half would bring. Very few predicted a riot, but that is what it ended up being. Inside less than a minute of the half Jacob Pinnington made another of his famous runs down the right, before drilling a low pass into the box from which Malachi Napa tapped in! Six minutes later, we got a third goal of the game, Jacob Pinnington involved again, as he lined up a shot, which deflected off Simeon Jackson, who wheeled away in celebration, even though there were some question marks if it had gone straight in, or if Josh Allen had got the final touch. Two minutes after that, Mal got his second. He twisted and turned away from the defenders, cut inside before “caressing” the ball into the bottom corner, just as he did the last time he scored twice against Long Eaton. Four goals in two games against them! What a return from injury he’s having! On the hour mark, we made it five. Josh Allen latched on to a long ball over the top, before calmly slotting past the ‘keeper. Right after that goal, we made a double change, Joe Neal, and Malachi Napa came off to a standing ovation, and were replaced by Callum Page, and Romario Dunne. The latter entering the pitch for appearance number 50 for the Yellows. With fifteen minutes to go, Reuben Swann returned to first team action replacing Ben Hunter. With full time creeping up on us, Jacob got the goal he deserved, as he danced round defenders in the penalty area, and fired a low shot across the face of goal and into the bottom corner. Deep into stoppage time, Callum Page got the ball, dribbled round a couple of players, and spectacularly curled into the bottom corner.

Full-Time: AFC Sudbury 7-1 Long Eaton United

Well, I’m not sure about you, but it hasn’t quite sunk in yet. SEVEN goals. SEVEN! This club never fails to amaze me. Three games ago, we sat seven points from safety, now we are two points above the relegation zone. SEVEN goals! The players have been excellent all season, and they haven’t always got the result they deserved, but they did today. What a way to end our home season. Now, let’s bring ourselves in numbers to Leamington, and give the lads one final push.

UP THE SUDS

By Isaac Mennie