Three First Half Goals Settle It

A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Aveley to the Wardale Williams Stadium looking to make it seven straight league wins and maintain pressure on Cray Wanderers at the top of the table. Aveley, in eighth place, would certainly prove stern opposition on an exceptionally mild, but dry December afternoon.

Aveley kicked off the match attacking from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. Sudbury signalled their intent early with Craig Parker finding Jordan Blackwell along the left wing and following his pass into Luke Callander, the Sudbury number nine curled a shot just wide of the right hand post. In the ninth minute Joe Maybanks’ right wing cross was met with a forcible header from Luke Callander and drew a fine diving save from Aveley ‘keeper James Marrable.

Sudbury dominated the early possession with slick and accurate passing rarely giving the visitors a chance to break out of their own half. A neat exchange of passes between Ollie Berquez and Jordan Blackwell saw Ahmed Deen smartly into position to block the latter’s shot. Blackwell was again denied when sent into the penalty area via Craig Parker’s pass, but again the shot was blocked.

In the eighteenth minute A.F.C. Sudbury gained the lead. Luke Callander sent a superb ball across the park into the path of
Joe Maybanks (pictured) who finished with some flare past a helpless James Marrable in the visitor’s goal. Aveley responded with Liam Nash finding his way into the home penalty area only to be stopped in his tracks by a fine tackle from James Baker.

Sudbury doubled the advantage on twenty-five minutes with a well-taken goal. Ryan Henshaw delivered a right wing free kick which was adeptly headed into the path of Craig Parker off the head of Aveley's Harrison, and he made no mistake.

Parker then found himself at the back snuffing out a rare Aveley sortie into home territory with Sam Clarke on hand to clear the danger entirely. On thirty-six minutes Luke Callander broke through the heart of the Aveley defence and finished easily past Marrable as the home side threatened to run riot.

Liam Nash then broke through the home defence with Marcus Garnham quickly off his line to make an excellent block. David Fallah then fired the ball high over the home crossbar following a punch clear from Garnham. James Baker found Ben Robinson with fine switched pass and his cross to Craig Parker saw the ball deflected for a corner from the right. Jack Wilkinson’s delivery was excellent, causing the Aveley defence to deflect the ball behind for a second corner. From this James Baker sent a shot into the side netting as the half ended with A.F.C. Sudbury comfortably in control.

Half-Time - AFC Sudbury 3 Aveley 0

Luke Callander ran strongly along the left wing and cut inside to send a shot across the face of the Aveley goal as Sudbury began the half strongly. Sam Clarke fed the ball into Ben Robinson who exchanged passes with Jack Wilkinson. Robinson’s cross was grabbed by James Marrable in the visitors’ goal.

On fifty-five minutes Tarryn Allarakhia broke into the Sudbury penalty area, but was stopped by a fine tackle by Ryan Henshaw. Sudbury’s first change of the afternoon saw Joe Maybanks make way for George Clarke before Allarakhia shot and drew a superb save form Marcus Garnham.

Just after the hour Sudbury’s second change came when Ollie Berquez left the action and Ross Bailey took to the park. Luke Callander sent a fine pass to Jordan Blackwell, but his shot was blocked superbly by Abs Seymour. Jordan Blackwell then saw his shot brilliantly saved by James Marrable as Aveley continued to defend bravely.

On seventy minutes Alex Teniola must have felt he’d scored with his rasping drive only to see Marcus Garnham leap to tip the ball over the crossbar with the save of the afternoon. On seventy-six minutes Aveley gained a lifeline with the goal their improved play and possession had threatened to bring. Abs Seymour crossed fro the left deep towards the back post and substitute Michael Pindy was on hand to touch the ball home. Jack Newman became the third A.F.C. Sudbury substitute when he replaced Luke Callander.

Yet again Jordan Blackwell drew a fine save from James Marrable who then did well again to deny the on-rushing George Clarke. Sudbury couldn’t find a second-half goal, but the endeavour and dominance of the first half had seen them to a comfortable seventh win in a row. A.F.C. Sudbury travel to Witham on Boxing Day before welcoming Bury Town to the Wardale Williams Stadium on the second of January in a mouth-watering local derby.

Att 283

Richard Whiting