Away Win Sees AFC Joint Top

Craig Parker’s brace of goals helped Jamie Godbold’s side come from behind to beat 10-man Witham to record their eighth consecutive league victory at a very windy Spa Road on Boxing Day. With league leaders Cray Wanderers losing Sudbury drew level on points with the Kent side but behind on goal difference but with two games in hand.

For the third match running Godbold fielded an unchanged side. It was a well earned win in difficult windy conditions and it would have been greater but for several outstanding saves from debutant home keeper Harry Palmer.

Despite having a strong wind in their faces AFC did most of the early attacking and twice in quick succession home keeper Palmer made top class saves to deny Sam Clarke and Joe Maybanks.

Ryan Charles forced Sudbury keeper Marcus Garnham into a tip-over save before Witham opened the scoring after 13 minutes when Lewis Francis latched on to a long wind assisted defensive clearance and chipped the ball over the advancing keeper.

Eight minutes later Sudbury levelled, when, from a good build-up Maybanks was fouled in the penalty box by Lance Atkins. The central defender was shown a straight red card and Craig Parker (pictured) tucked away the resulting spot kick.
Keeper Palmer made another fine save to deny Parker giving Sudbury a first half lead.

Half time: Witham Town 1 AFC Sudbury 1

The second half was only a minute old when AFC scored their second goal to go in front.Now, with the strong wind at their backs, Parker seized on a ball over the top and although Palmer blocked his first effort Craig Parker pounced on to the loose ball and netted from a narrow angle.

That proved to be Sudbury’s winning goal as Palmer made other fine saves and Witham, despite their numerical disadvantage had some good spells of pressure but got little change out of a sound Sudbury defence.

Att 160

Pat Arbon