Saturday seemed a long way away at the end of ninety minutes of a game that never reached any great heights but at the end of it three more points were added to the season’s total. This coupled with other Ryman North results meant that AFC increased their lead at the top of table and the doom and gloom of three days previous were forgotten.

AFC Manager Jamie Godbold made changes to his starting line-up; Luke Callander was unavailable due to personal commitments, so James Baker took his place up front with Stefano Mallardo stepping into the centre of defence. Jack Newman replaced Ollie Berquez and George Clarke took the place of Joe Maybanks.

On a cold Tuesday evening and after a disappointing defeat on Saturday the attendance was substantially down from 434 to 173 and in a first half devoid of any real chances those who attended may have wished they had stayed indoors.

AFC certainly started brighter than the previous game with Jordan Blackwell being involved in most of the attacks. The visitors suffered an early blow when Babalola had to leave the game with Elmson taking over.

On fifteen minutes Tilbury had a great chance with Glozier getting a cross in that fell to Kurt Smith and Jack Wilkinson was on hand to head away the danger. AFC responded with Blackwell feeding George Clarke, his shot was deflected for a corner. From the kick the ball fell to Ryan Henshaw who blasted the ball goalward and saw it well saved by Bogard in the Tilbury goal.

Marcus Garnham was called into action when he saved a Carlile shot conceding a corner from which a Martin header struck the AFC bar. The minutes from the break Blackwell broke and got a pass to Craig Parker whose shot was saved at the second time of asking by Bogard.

AFC continued to press but there were no first half goals, just before the interval Game for Tilbury was booked for a foul on Sam Clarke.

Half Time; - AFC Sudbury 0 Tilbury 0

The second period was to be similar to the first with AFC having plenty of the ball but unable for much of the time to caused real problems in the final third, although in the end there was a good outcome to affairs.

Early on Newman put in a good run forward and got the ball to George Clarke and his shot struck the far post and rebounded away. Baker in his now unfamiliar role saw a shot on the turn go wide.

The Essex side had Aiken get on a good run down the right wing and cross and the ball found the head of Smith only to wide of the Sudbury goal. Smith for the visitors made a great darting run from his own half towards the AFC goal and Mallardo trying to get to him was unfortunate to clip his heels and this resulted in a free kick and a yellow card for the AFC defender. From the free-kick Glozier headed over.

The breakthrough came on sixty-nine minutes the ball was worked down the right and Blackwell put it into penalty area and there was George Clarke (pictured) to head home.

Tilbury introduced their new signing Cundle with Martin going off, AFC soon made a double substitution, Berquez and Liam Wales taking the places of Sam Clarke and James Baker.

It took only a minute for the changes to make a difference. George Clarke put the ball into the box and there from close range to score was Liam Wales.

Aiken went off for ‘The Dockers’ and Ross bailey came on for AFC with Newman leaving the fray. Three minutes from time Sudbury added a third goal to wrap the game up. A corner came in and was partially cleared to Berquez his shot was cannoned back to Ryan Henshaw who fell as he shot but the ball ended in the back of the net.

The final whistle went and there was relief that the side had bounced back from their previous poor performance and now looks forward with confidence to their next adventure.

Att 173

YNOT