The final road trip of this successful season saw AFC on the road to make their first ever visit to Phoenix Sports. The coach taking the team and supporters was full with many supporters celebrating the last away game in the traditional way by wearing fancy dress.

AFC having lost only one fixture away all season did not lose this won and came away with a comfortable victory, the goals coming from Craig Parker, Liam Wales, Jordan Blackwell and George Clarke.

Sudbury Manager Jamie Godbold was forced by circumstances to put out what was probably the youngest ever starting line-up in a very long time indeed possibly ever. Seventeen year-old Tyler French was given his first start playing at left back, eighteen year-old Jack Newman play in central defence as James baker was allowed time off to compete in the Brighton Marathon. In midfield, eighteen year-old Wayne Blackman started and Liam Wales led the line as Luke Callander has a slight knock.

AFC were warmly welcomed by a very hospitable Phoenix club and indeed were clapped onto the pitch by their players who formed a guard of honour while the Chairman on the sound system congratulated both players and supporters. Both were nice and classy things to do.

AFC started the game brightly but it was fifteen minutes before they opened the scoring. The ball was played into midfield and another young player George Clarke interchanged passes with Craig Parker (pictured) before the ball was fired home by AFC’s leading scorer. It was Parker’s twenty-eighth goal of the campaign.

Phoenix had a lively forward in Pattison who the club have high hopes of going on bigger and better things and he showed several reasons why with his speed on the ball. One attempt saw Marcus Garnham tip a hot onto the far post before French cleared. A few minutes later Pattison was guilty of a bad miss with an open goal.

It was not until two minutes before the interval that the lead was increased. The ball was played forward in the middle of the pitch and just inside the Phoenix half of it. There were two AFC players, George Clarke and Liam Wales, and one home defender, if Clarke had touched the ball then offside would have been given. Wales however latched onto it ran forward and took on the advancing keeper Phillips before slotting home.

Half Time: - Phoenix Sports 0 AFC Sudbury 2

AFC made a substitution at the start of the half with Ollie Berquez who had done well in the first half breaking up the play was replaced by Luke Callander. Sudbury’s second highest scorer had a couple of efforts that made keeper Phillips work one being tipped around the post.

Parker was given a rest just after the hour mark with Ross Bailey taking over.

Another young player, Jordan Blackwell who was making his one-hundredth appearance for the club, a short time latter netted the third Sudbury goal. French played a long ball forward Blackwell chased with a defender, keeper Phillips came out missed the ball and Blackwell rounded him and coolly scored.

From a corner the home sides Captain Hill headed just wide, before Ben Robinson was substituted by Danny Cunningham. The Ryman newcomers pulled a goal back with Pattinson firing home at the far post after Gordon had fired in a shot from the right and the ball came back off the post to him.

The final away goal of AFC’ Championship winning season came three minutes from full time from the head of George Clarke, he was at the far post to head home along cross from the left from Cunningham.

So another good win on the road, the only defeat being at Thurrock in October last year. It rounded off a good day with a very young AFC side and good travelling season.

Att 133

YNOT