Rainy Day Stalemate

AFC Manager Jamie Godbold made some changes to his starting line-up, with Ollie Berquez and Robbie Martin restored and George Clarke making his first start. The other new signing Joe Maybanks was named on the substitutes bench but due to a problem with the FA was not going to be allowed on in the game!

The wet day held no fear that the game would be on due to the 3G pitch at the Wardale Williams Stadium, this when several games in the vicinity fell foul to the weather. The windy conditions were however a factor as AFC played against in the first period.

The visitors had been quite prolific in the goal-scoring department in recent games scoring twenty-four times in their last six outings. In their side was ex-AFC player Ayrton Colley making his first return to the club.

There were very few chances in the early stages, Marcus Garnham punching away a corner from Bruno, while at the other end Jordan Blackwell shooting wide.

Coley shot over after a Bruno shot, while Clarke put an AFC cross that eluded everyone.

Cheshunt had a great chance to get ahead when Hallett and Coley interchanged passes and Garnham diving to his right to fingertip the ball away for a corner saved the former’s hard shot low down.

AFC responded with a Luke Callander lob that went over midway through the half. Berquez was rather harshly booked for a tackle on Coley, before the end of the half Bruno also was yellow carded for persistent infringements of the laws of the game.

AFC’s best chance of the half was just before the interval. Callander was through and shot with it being blocked, the ball came back to Clarke who headed the ball down into the ground and it was cleared of the goal line.

Half Time; - AFC Sudbury 0 Cheshunt 0

It was Blackwell who burst down the left side a minute after the restart and got the ball to Callander, but the burly striker shot wide.

The visitors countered and Ryan Henshaw, who had a fine game, was on hand to get in a good block to deny Hallett. James Baker, in central defence was marshalling his men well wearing the Captain’s armband, he got in a tackle on Hallett that later earned a reprimand from the referee, the visitors wasting the advantage given them.

Blackwell curled a shot wide and Craig Parker looked through but stumbled over the ball and at the other end Bruno shot over. Blackwell was again involved for AFC in a display that won him the sponsors Man of the Match Award, his shot going just wide after a good build up.

The Sudbury side were certainly having the better of the half as the visitors had done in the first, but Coley and Hallett combined again with the latter shooting wide with the AFC defence stretched and having a three on three situation.

Ben Robinson drove down the right crossed, Ross Bailey stepped over the ball and Callander shot, but it was saved by Hayward in the Cheshunt goal. Liam Wales took over from Clarke with twelve minutes left to try and give the side fresh legs.

It seemed that AFC would take the lead when Parker was through on the visiting goal rounded keeper Hayward but was too wide and the ball was cleared with Wales closing in and a goal kick given when it looked like a defender had got back and taken a touch.

Blackwell tried to get away on the left flicking the ball around Kizzi who stuck out a hand to stop it. He was duly cautioned and five minutes from time Callander was booked as the game ended goalless.

The sponsors Anglia Produce Limited named Jordan Blackwell as their Man Of the Match and he is pictured above receiving his award.

Att 216

YNOT