A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Bury Town to The Wardale Williams Stadium in what has been billed ‘the A134 derby’ looking to make it nine wins in a row and maintain pressure on Cray Wanderers at the top of the league. As things turned out, with Cray’s match postponed, a draw would have been enough to see A.F.C. Sudbury hit top spot.

Sudbury kicked off the game attacking from right to left as viewed from the seated stand. The league’s form side settled quickly with Jack Wilkinson finding Jordan Blackwell along the left wing, his cross cut out by the Bury Town defence and cleared. Blackwell came again, running strongly at the visitor’s defence before cutting inside from the left and pulling a good save from Neil O’Sullivan in the Bury goal.

Sudbury forced a succession of early corners with Bury well organised and working hard at the back. Ryan Henshaw picked up a half-cleared corner from Jack Wilkinson’s dangerous delivery and had his powerful drive blocked. Luke Callander curled a speculative effort towards goal. but O’Sullivan was well placed to gather. Callander then went on a strong run crossing for Jordan Blackwell from the right, but the pacy Sudbury number seven just failed to apply enough boot leather to see the ball home. Bury Town won their first corner of the game on ten minutes, but Ben Robinson rose strongly to head well clear.

On twenty-one minutes Ben Robinson’s run along the right saw him cross for Luke Callander whose header just cleared the Bury Town crossbar. Sudbury were in control with the visitors content to soak up the pressure with a well-drilled and hard working defence. In a rare attack Cemal Ramadan fired high over Marcus Garnham’s goal on thirty-four minutes whilst at the other end Wilkinson’s cross was well gathered by O’Sullivan.

On thirty-seven minutes Jordan Blackwell was through on goal only to fire straight at O’Sullivan who none-the-less did very well to keep the shot out. Sudbury’s pressure finally told on thirty-seven minutes. Callander found space in the penalty area after James Baker had done really well to get into the danger zone. Luke Callander fired his shot of the inside of the left hand post and into the net via the opposite upright and the home side had the lead.

Bury came back strongly with Baker and Berquez on hand to stifle a counter attack and Sam Clarke snuffing out an attempted break. Luke Callander then released Jordan Blackwell again and once more his finish was saved by a well-positioned Neil O’Sullivan. Callander then fired over the bar after a superb ball through to him by Craig Parker as Sudbury continued their dominance, but despite five added minutes, the home side failed to extend their lead before the break.

Half-Time AFC Sudbury 1 Bury Town 0

The visitors started the second half with purpose and no little dangerous intent. A forty-seventh minute corner form Ramadan was hooked clear by Ollie Berquez and a minute later Garnham rose well to gather Ramadan’s well-flighted corner.

On fifty minutes Craig Parker ran strongly into the Bury Town penalty area, but although falling, any penalty appeals were brushed aside. Ben Robinson was booked for a trip on fifty-two minutes which seemed very harsh given some of the challenges that had passed early inspections. On fifty-six minutes Craig Parker had a shot blocked and won his side a corner. From Joe Maybanks’ dangerous delivery O’Sullivan dropped the ball, but no Sudbury boot could reach the ball before its was cleared upfield.

A lovely move in which Parker and Blackwell exchanged passes saw Blackwell in on goal again, but the Bury ‘keeper was again positioned perfectly and the ball was blocked to safety.

Ex-AFC man Ollie Canfer fire a free-kick high over the home crossbar, but Sudbury were looking composed at the back defending their narrow lead. Marcus Garnham rose well to powerfully punch clear a left wing corner on seventy-five minutes as the rain drove across the Wardale Williams Stadium and gathering the ball cleanly became a less certain proposition. To warm applause Luke Callander was replace by Liam Wales (pictured) with a quarter of an hour remaining.

Substitute Daniel Hammett fired a shot from distance which was easily gathered by Marcus Garnham as Bury strove to get a hold in the game. Sudbury’s second substitution was made when Joe Maybanks was replaced by George Clarke. With ten minutes remaining Sudbury finally made the three points safe. A right wing corner by Jack Wilkinson found its way to James Baker as the Bury Town defence seemed to freeze and the shot deflected off Liam Wales into the net from close-range.

The hard-working Jordan Blackwell made way for Jack Newman with two minutes remaining and a spirited Bury side used the five added on minutes to pressurise the home defence. Tevan Allen shot wide of the home goal, but the A.F.C. Sudbury clean sheet was preserved through hard work as the ninth win on the spin was secured,

An entertaining game in front of 769 supporters in which A.F.C. Sudbury played some superb passing football and were given a tough game by local rivals Bury Town whose organisation and hard work made the three points a very hard prospect for much of the game. Sudbury look to make it ten wins on the bounce when they travel to Maldon and Tiptree next Saturday afternoon.

Att 769

Richard Whiting