AFC went into their first game as Champions with a local derby at Ram Meadow, and they came away with a point after coming from behind to maintain their away record of a solitary defend so far this season. Luke Callander scored the AFC in the second half, his twenty-fourth of the season.

Jamie Godbold made a couple of changes to his starting line up after Saturday’s win at Tilbury, Joe Maybanks and Jordan Blackwell were on the substitutes bench with Liam Wales and George Clarke starting the game.

For AFC Wales was put away by Luke Callander but the former Bury man shot over. The home side responded with several long throw in from Miller and they caused problems in the Sudbury penalty area. From one Marcus Garnham punched well but the ball came crashing back and was well blocked by Ryan Henshaw.

James Baker, who was superb at the back all game, was responsible for getting in the way to deny Hall before Garnham saved low down from Ingram.
On the half hour mark Baker was again AFC’s saviour as Hughes got away, the Sudbury Captain got in a great tackle to deny his former teammate.

Bury were having the better of things and again put pressure on the Sudbury defence with Miller’s long throws, however from one AFC broke and Ross Bailey had a chance but shot wide of O’Sullivan’s goal.

From a right wing corner the home side went in front, with Hughes making a darting run to the near post to head past Garnham.

Before the half ended Callander shot over as did Barber for Bury.

Half-Time; - Bury Town 1 AFC Sudbury 0

The second half was a stark contrast to the first as AFC dominated it. Early on ben Robinson burst forward and had a shot blocked and then Craig Parker’s effort suffered a similar fate.

Seven minutes in and AFC were level. Again Robinson was involved shooting in to the area from the right hand side the ball bobbled around and Luke Callander was there to scramble the ball over the line from closed range.

Callander and Wales combined well with the ball being fizzed across the Bury goal but Clarke was unable to reach it. Wales and Callander were booked by an official who was certainly bordering on the erratic with some of his decisions.

Jack Newman replaced Danny Cunningham before the home side made a couple of changes. Ollie Berquez who had performed well breaking up play was booked and then substituted with Joe Maybanks taking over.

Soon after he came on he was in front of goal and received a ball from Callander but he bobbled it into keeper O’Sullivan’s arms. At the other end Garnham saved from Mayhew before Jolland somehow shot high over an open AFC goal.

It seemed that AFC would win the game late on. Callander chased a through ball and as O’Sullivan came out the Sudbury forward chipped it around him and at the open goal. The ball struck the bottom of the post and came back out but Callander was unable to convert the rebound. The same player had another chance but Jolland was on hand to stop a header entering the net before the final whistle went.

So a point to take the season’s tally to 102 and to have still only lost one away fixture.

Att 425

YNOT