Three More Valuable Points

League leaders AFC travelled to a windy Chadfields the home of Tilbury to take on Haringey Borough, their home ground being unfit.

Sudbury ended the game victorious and after Harlow Town had dropped two points the previous day found themselves twelve points clear with the Essex side having two games in hand.

The away win meant a record eleven straight victories for Jamie Godbold’s side and twelve unbeaten on the road, last tasting defeat on 10th October when they lost at Thurrock. In the end a Liam Wales first half leveler and two Joe Maybanks goals in the second period saw AFC home.

Manager Godbold was absent due to work commitments so Andy Reynolds was in charge and the team saw a couple of changes with leading scorer Craig Parker not fully fit he was on the bench. Joining him there was Jack Newman and Jordan Blackwell with Ollie Berquez starting along with Liam Wales and George Clarke.

The Tilbury pitch was spongy and had a strong wind blowing down the length of it and AFC started playing against it. The strength of it meant Marcus Garnham’s goal kicks were barely reaching the halfway line.

Haringey had the ball in the AFC net in the second minute but it was chalked off for offside, it was a warning that the young side meant business. The wind was proving difficult for the AFC defenders with long balls in the air causing problems particularly for Stefano Mallardo.

On nine minutes George Clarke shot wide of the Haringey goal after good work by Liam Wales and James Baker.

Willer and McDonald for the hosts did well in front of the AFC goal but the ball was cleared. The ‘home’ side went in front on twelve minutes when Willer cut in from the right and shot home the ball curling in at the far post.

Jack Wilkinson got in a good cross that Harris in the home goal caught. AFC thought they had equalised on twenty-one minutes after a long throw was headed down onto the goal line with keeper Harris clawing at the ball there. Despite claiming it was over the line the officials waved play on.

Wales then had a chance to score but he bundled the ball wide this after Ryan Henshaw had headed on a free-kick. Wilson for Haringey got the ball in front of goal but shot horribly high and over the AFC goal.

On twenty-eight minutes Marcus Garnham came to AFC’s rescue when a defensive mix up allowed McDonald to get away with a clear sight of goal, the keeper came out well and made a great save to deny him. The same player had another effort go over the bar before eventually Sudbury levelled.

Haringey’s McDonald had a great shot from the right wing that thankfully was wind assisted just over the Sudbury bar. With the half coming to an end Joe Maybanks on the right put in a cross that Liam Wales run onto and from close range got it over the line.

Half-Time;- Haringey Borough 1 AFC Sudbury 1

With the wind at their backs AFC began to play some better football and Maybanks had a chance to score after a good ball from George Clarke, but it went over.

Garnham then produced a save of the highest quality to keep the scores even. A fierce shot from Aristidou was destined for the top right hand corner of the goal but the Sudbury keeper leapt to his left and finger tipped the ball away for a corner.

In the sixty-sixth minute Luke Callander took over from George Clarke and few minutes later Sudbury were in front. James Baker headed the ball to Wales on the right and his cross found Joe Maybanks who side footed home.

On seventy-two minutes Wales and Mallardo went off with Newman and Blackwell replacing them.

Newman, Berquez and Callander combined well to set up Joe Maybanks to virtually sealed the game with his second goal on seventy-nine minutes, the Braintree Town loanee cooly slotting home.

Ben Robinson worked the ball well down the right side and got the ball inside to Newman whose shot went over the Haringey bar.

It seemed that with five minutes left Maybanks would get his hat trick a when he took advantage of a defensive mix up and was clear in front of goal but his shot struck the post and rolled away.

Haringey should have added a second goal just before the final whistle but again it was Garnham’s agility that saved the day. AFC final chance of the day came when Callander blasted over, but it was three points gained with the season’s end is in sight, and ten games left to secure promotion.

Att 91

YNOT