Momentum Maintained In Title Push

The A.F.C. Sudbury title chase returned to the Wardale Williams Stadium this afternoon with Great Wakering Rovers providing the opposition. There was a surprise inclusion on the bench for the home side, Danny Cunningham returning to the club from Leiston to add some experience and creativity to the squad in these vital few last weeks of the season.

AFC kicked off the game attacking from right to left as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. Sudbury soon found their feet with a fine move involving Craig Parker, Luke Callander and Jack Wilkinson exchanging rapid passes and Joe Maybanks flashing a fine shot towards goal which Wakering ‘keeper Adam Seal turned away with a fine leap to his right.

The home side came again with a Ryan Henshaw header saved by Seal and Maybanks’ follow-ip drive blocked by the visitors’ defence. In the tenth minute the home grabbed the advantage their play had already more than hinted at. The lively Jordan Blackwell (pictured) unleashing a rasping drive which Seal again did well to parry, but Luke Callander was on hand to neatly tap the loose ball home.

Sudbury continued to boss the match with Great Wakering struggling to penetrate high up the park. On the quarter-hour Charlie Barlow sent over a high cross from the right wing which Marcus Garnham rose to gather audaciously, high above his head, with just a single hand. At the other end, Luke Callander used his strength to hold the ball up for Ben Robinson to send a driven shot wide of the Wakering goal.

More excellent flowing football followed. Ben Robinson and Craig Parker exchanged two passes each and won the home side a corner from the right wing, the clearance from which Craig Parker drove straight into the arms of the well-placed Seal. Next it was skipper Sam Clarke, rushing onto a half-cleared ball, who saw his pile-driven shot blocked by the Great Wakering defence. At the other end Jack Wilkinson rose well to head clear from a promising Rovers attack.

The play was dominated by the hosts without their being able to convert the possession into the goals their endeavours deserved. On thirty-three minutes a lightening run by Jordan Blackwell saw him flick the ball to Luke Callander whose shot was superbly tipped over the crossbar by the increasingly impressive Adam Seal. The Wakering ‘keeper then grabbed the resultant corner as Sudbury were forced to build again.

The visitors briefly threatened until Ross Bailey robbed Charlie Barlow on the charge before the home side doubled their advantage. On thirty-six minutes a mazy run by the athletic Jordan Blackwell saw him waltz through the Great Wakering defence and finish sublimely past Seal.

Craig Parker received a blow to the head as again Sudbury pressed, before the masked figure of Ryan Henshaw, protecting a facial injury, drove a fierce shot towards goal which was blocked and Sam Clarke’s follow-up went wide of the Wakering goal.

Half-Time;- AFC Sudbury 2 Gt Wakering Rovers 0

Jordan Blackwell’s pace looked to have outstripped Nick Skelton, but the Wakering man brought the Sudbury number seven crashing down. A.F.C. Sudbury continued to boss possession, but further goals were proving elusive. On fifty-six minutes Great Wakering Rovers reduced the arrears. Max Kent’s high free-kick, causing confusion in the home penalty area, was missed by Marcus Garnham and knocked into the net by Jay Nash.

The Yellows responded with a substitution, Joe Maybanks making way and Danny Cunningham coming into the action. Great Wakering, buoyed by their goal, gave their hosts some hard moments in the next few minutes. James Baker was brilliantly placed to clear one effort off the line, before Billy Johnson forced two stunning reflex saves from Sudbury ‘keeper Marcus Garnham.

Ross Bailey’s good afternoon was ended when he was replaced by Liam Wales in the sixty-sixth minute. Ben Robinson immediately escaped at pace down the right wing to pick out Liam Wales in the centre of the penalty area and, with his opening touch of the game, the substitute drove a wonderful first-time shot past Seal to restore the two goal lead. This effectively put the Great Wakering resurgence to bed and re-settled the home side.

Within a minute, Ben Robinson limped off (following another monumental display) to be replaced by Jack Newman. Newman was immediately busy, dealing brilliantly with the on-rushing Billy Johnson to avert any potential danger. Jordan Blackwell was scythed down on eighty-two minutes by Skelton on the right wing who earned himself a yellow card. From the resultant free-kick, Danny Cunningham curled the ball superbly into the top left-hand corner of the net and earned himself a standing ovation for his moment of brilliance.

With five minutes remaining some salt was rubbed into the Wakering wounds when Jordan Blackwell fired home a deserved second goal of the afternoon.

A.F.C. Sudbury went twelve points clear of the chasing pack with a professional performance in which, once again, the whole side contributed to the victory. With ninety-two points and only seven games remaining, the side’s confidence and performances are surely within reach of bringing the Ryman Division One North title to the Wardale Williams Stadium in the very near future.

Att 316

Richard Whiting