A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed third-placed A.F.C. Hornchurch to the 3G weather-proof surface of the Wardale Williams Stadium on the back of a ten match winning run which also sees the club unbeaten in the league since the third of November.

James Baker was missing for the home side, the Sudbury defender currently having work commitments in the U.S.A. Also absent was forward Luke Callander who was unavailable due to a work commitment. Stefano Mallardo came in at the back while up front George Clarke (pictured) was selected.

A minute’s silence was held before the game kicked-off to mark the sad passing of Marion Nichols, a much-loved and staunch supporter of A.F.C. Sudbury whose presence in the Brian Tatum Stand will be much missed.

A.F.C. Hornchurch kicked off the game on a bright, but exceedingly cold afternoon in South Suffolk. Hornchurch began with purpose and dominated the possession, albeit without really troubling the organised home defence. Ryan Henshaw did well to cut out a dangerous ball at the expense of a left wing corner on eight minutes as the visitors threatened before Jack Wilkinson worked space on the left wing for Sudbury, his excellent cross headed clear by George Purcell.

Ben Robinson timed a great tackle in the penalty box to perfection to clear another well-worked Hornchurch move before Ollie Berquez, found in the box by George Clarke, was denied by an equally fine tackle. Wilkinson then found Craig Parker in the penalty area, but his shot was blocked. On seventeen minutes Jack Newman’s left wing corner was delivered low into Ryan Henshaw whose driven shot went over the crossbar.

Sam Clarke was booked on eighteen minutes for an innocuous looking sliding challenge on halfway, the Sudbury skipper looking to have made more than genuine attempt at winning the ball. Marcus Garnham was then smart off his line to punch clear the dangerously delivered free-kick as Sudbury stood firm.

A clever exchange of passes between Joey May and Leon McKenzie saw the latter curl a shot wide of the left hand post for the visitors. Ryan Henshaw was on hand to thump the ball clear with a towering header before Elliot Styles kept up the pressure picking up the loose ball and shooting over the crossbar.

Craig Parker’s strong run through the centre of the park saw him fouled just outside the A.F.C. Hornchurch penalty area. The set-piece was fluffed somewhat as the ball dribbled between between Parker and Wilkinson before being easily cleared.

Play was scrappy from both sides, passes going astray and guilt-edged chances few and far between. Just before the break Leon McKenzie stormed through the Sudbury defence, but Marcus Garnham was swiftly off his line to save brilliantly at the Hornchurch number nineteen’s feet.

Half Time;- AFC Sudbury 0 AFC Hornchurch 0

Chances seemed to be at as much a premium as they had been in the first half when play began in the second period. Stefano Mallardo found himself on the receiving-end of a yellow card for a heavy challenge on half-way, but Junior May’s set-piece drifted well wide of Marcus Garnham’s home goal.

Sudbury’s opening chance of the half saw a right wing free-kick by Jack Newman reach the head of George Clarke rising in the Hornchurch penalty area to head just wide of the left hand post. After a consultation between referee and linesman, no action was taken following a collision between Sudbury ‘keeper Marcus Garnham and Hornchurch’s Leon McKenzie which left the Sudbury man on the floor requiring treatment after having cleared the ball.

Ryan Henshaw then entered the notebook when he was shown yellow for a foul on Purcell, yet the game at no point looked to be anything other than excellently disciplined. The busy Purcell then raised a laugh with a mis-kick, but then almost wiped away the mirth when he cut inside to send a rasping drive fizzing past the A.F.C. Sudbury goal. At the other end Liam Wales was highly unfortunate after chasing hard after a seemingly lost cause, almost hooking the ball over the line before a desperate Hornchurch boot gladly thumped the ball to safety.

On sixty-five minutes A.F.C. Sudbury took the lead with a superb goal. Ben Robinson received the ball on the right wing and delivered a stunning cross for George Clarke to head brilliantly past a diving Sam Mott in the visitor’s goal. Just two minutes later and the game was in the melting pot once again when A.F.C. Hornchurch grabbed an equalising goal. After some desperate defending with Henshaw clearing off the goal line, George Purcell picked up the partially cleared ball and drilled home skilfully through a largely floored defence.

Jack Newman and Liam Wales left the action for AF.C. Sudbury to be replaced by Jordan Blackwell and Joe Maybanks on seventy-four minutes. A minute later and the fast Blackwell was fouled by Junior Luke on the right touchline and Maybanks’ free-kick was cleared back to the Sudbury substitute who sent a shot just wide of the left hand post.

Garnham was again on hand to punch clear May’s excellent and dangerous corner and David Knight fired dangerously close to goal as the home defence failed to clear, his effort sliding wide of the left hand post. Luke again fouled the tricky Blackwell out wide on the right with Maybanks’ set-piece again cleared hurriedly away by the Hornchurch defence.

Ross Bailey replaced Ollie Berquez with less than five minutes of normal time remaining, but neither side could open up the well-drilled defences on show this afternoon and after a marathon of six added minutes, the game ended with both sides sharing what looked to have been a very hard-earned point indeed.

The fixture was sponsored by Scott Parnell and they chose as their man of the match Ryan Henshaw.

Att 403

Richard Whiting