AFC went into this game top of the Ryman North table and on a twelve match unbeaten run. They ended the ninety minutes still top but on the end of a comprehensive defeat thus ending the unbeaten run in spectacular style. The Essex visitors came saw and conquered all within the first thirty-five minutes.

Sudbury manager Jamie Godbold recalled both Ben Robinson and Ollie Berquez after they missed the previous game through illness, Joe Maybanks also came in with George Clarke taking a place on the bench.

Before the kick-off both sides and the crowd stood for a minutes silence in honour of former Sudbury Town player Roger Farthing.

Thurrock were quickly in their stride and looked like a side eager to try and catch up to the league leaders and it took them only twelve minutes to get in front. The ball went over Berquez who appeared to be blinded by the low January sunshine and end at the feet of who Christou shot and the in sliding Ryan Henshaw deflected the ball into the net.

Only three minutes later with AFC unable to get any control of the game ‘The Fleet’ went two goals up. This time the ball came out of the Sudbury penalty area some ten yards and there to crash it home with power giving Marcus Garnham no chance, was Cummings.

AFC were seemingly unable to keep possession of the ball and that was heaping the pressure on their defence up against a very lively visiting attack.

Just past the half hour mark AFC had not troubled Madden in the Thurrock goal and then went further in front. A crowded penalty area and a couple of Thurrock corners saw the ball pinging about with appeals for a penalty soon quashed after Toner eventually put it over the line.

Jordan Blackwell playing out wide for AFC looked at every occasion to take his opponent on and managed to get in a goalbound effort that was easily dealt with by Madden.

Three became four on thirty-five minutes, central defender Sutton played a long ball down their left side, Winn took on and beat James Baker and strode forward and slotted home past Garnham. That was game over.

Frustration set in and Callander and Robinson were booked before the break, the half ending with Robinson firing high over the Thurrock bar.

Half time; - AFC Sudbury 0 Thurrock 4

The second half saw an improvement in AFC’s play and indeed they had the majority of the ball but could not penetrate the Thurrock defence.

Joe Maybanks put in a couple of corners from one Sam Clarke (pictured) put the ball over the bar and from another Blackwell fired over, but at least the ball was in the opposition half.
Maybanks went off and George Clarke took over from the Braintree loanee.

On sixty-three minutes and AFC had only ten men to play against. Blackwell was fouled and Thurrock’s Lewis Clark seeming did not like the decision and vented his anger at the referee who cautioned him. The defender walked away still dissenting and was shown a second yellow and then a red card and he was off. This meant a change with ex-AFC man Dave Cowley going off to be replaced by defender Baker.

Callander had a shot that Madden smothered before Berquez was substituted for Jack Newman. Callander had another chance, a header from a Robinson cross, it was his last part of the action as Stefano Mallardo replaced him. This meant Baker going up front and the substitute slotting into the centre of defence.

Thurrock were not short of chances with both Gleed and Winn getting in efforts on the Sudbury goal, before they gave two other substitutes, Cole and Francis a few minutes of match time.

The final whistle went to the relief of AFC and their supporters on a day that belonged to the opposition, a rare occasion in the past twelve matches. It was a bad day but a team does not become bad because of one game so it’s onto the next challenge.

The game was sponsored by GSM Joinery and they chose Sam Clark as their Man Of The Match.

Att 434

YNOT