A Point Gained

A late goal denied AFC all three points against a side that in their previous three meetings with them, they had failed to gain anything.

AFC Manager Jamie Godbold made three changes to the starting line-up, with Jack Newman starting at left back, Sam Bantick coming in wide on the left and Craig Parker back into midfield.

It was the home side that started the better applying pressure with both Cripps and Kelly shooting wide.

After eleven minutes, (according to the golden goal timekeeper, but ten on the AFC stopwatches) it was AFC who went in front. A great run down the left hand side by Sam Bantick (pictured) saw him take on the Brightlingsea defence before unleashing a fierce hard low shot that beat Plummer in the home goal. It was his first goal for the club in his second appearance and first start.

Captain Sam Clarke, just two appearances short of three hundred for the club was booked, rather harshly it appeared, when he rose to challenge for the ball.

Gould for the home side forced Ollie Bowles to save low down, this just after Read had fired wide and then Howell had their best chance trying to swivel and shoot he missed the ball.

AFC then had a chance to increase their lead when again Bantick got away skillfully going in to Brightlingsea area and perhaps dallying to long before shooting, his being deflected for a corner.

Kelly, a strong home forward, made a run from the halfway line but he was corralled and the ball put out for a corner from which Gould shot and Bowles saved.

Bantick and Luke Callander combined well but the latter shot high over the home bar. Brightlingsea countered with Griggs crossing from the right and Turner heading whilst down on his knees, Bowles was able to collect the ball safely.

It was Bantick, having a good game, taking on defenders as he attacked, who had the last chance of the first half his shot going off a defender for a corner.

Half-Time; - Brightlingsea Regent 0 AFC Sudbury 1

The home side made a substitution at the break with Clarke replacing Heath who had taken a couple of first half knocks.

AFC were not sitting back and were taking the game to the hosts and looking a far better side than in their previous outing. Callander had a shot that was on target but went for a corner.

Manager Godbold made a double substitution on sixty-five minutes with both Clarke and Bantick leaving with slight niggles, Ollie Canfer and Ollie Berquez taking over.

Three minutes later and Sudbury were down to ten men, Jordan Blackwell showing some frustration and kicking out of legs after a tackle was the recipient of the red card.

Jack Newman was on the end of a heavy challenge and had to be replaced by Robbie Martin, notching a hundred appearances for the club.

The home side were pressing trying to make their one-man advantage pay but it was from an AFC attack that they eventually got level. They cleared the ball and Berquez had to impede his attacker on the halfway line, and was booked for his trouble. From the resultant free kick the ball was squared to Griggs who stole forward and unleashed a hard shot from some thirty-five yards that went high into the net above the outstretched arms of Bowles.

There were four minutes of stoppage time and Callander got himself yellow carded for kicking the ball away.

It was cruel result on the visitors as they had worked hard to overcome one of their bogie sides, but one point is certainly better than none.

Att 142

YNOT