Champions Crowned

Champions A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed play-off participants Harlow Town to the Wardale Williams Stadium for a match which promised to produce a carnival atmosphere as the title-winners came to parade their trophy. This game would mark the end of a playing career for Ollie Berquez whose presence in any capacity in the game in the future would be more than welcome. The legend that is the much-loved Pat Arbon was at the match following his recent return from hospital which was a sight that equalled the anticipated trophy presentation.

The players entered the pitch with Harlow Town forming a guard of honour for their hosts to match that also given at Phoenix Sports last weekend. Harlow Town had brought their usual large, vociferous following into Suffolk as well as their famous air-raid warning siren which made a welcome return. (Far better in a football match than any other capacity!)

A.F.C. Sudbury kicked off the game kicking from right to left as seen from the Brian Tatum Stand. The first attack belonged to Harlow Town and from a third minute corner from the right, delivered dangerously by Mario Noto, Danny Cunningham rose well to head strongly clear. Harlow again came at their hosts, this time Junior Dadson’s strong run stopped in its tracks with a fine tackle by Ollie Berquez with Craig Parker firing the ball clear. Dadson’s next move was to hone in on goal, but A.F.C. Sudbury Supporters’ Player of the Year Marcus Garnham, was sharply off his line to gather. A seventh minute free-kick from Jared Small was headed confidently clear by Ben Robinson before Danny Cunningham’s fine pass threatened to send Ollie Berquez clear through the middle, but an offside flag was raised. A similarly finely-tuned ball from James Baker looked to release Jordan Blackwell, but despite the Sudbury number seven’s pace, David Hughes was off his line early to gather in the visitors goal.

Jordan Blackwell again threatened the Harlow goal, but Ibrahima Sonko did well to avert the danger. Sonko again denied the pacy Blackwell a minute later as the midfield man threatened to score a wonderful goal. Luke Callander was caught offside from a fine Ryan Henshaw pass out of defence before Henshaw rose to clear Noto’s right wing corner as the game swung pleasingly from end to end. On twenty-seven minutes Liam Wales gained a yard on the well-drilled Harlow back line, but his lobbed shot went high over the crossbar. At the other end Junior Dadson fired a close-range shot on goal which drew from Marcus Garnham a trade-mark fabulous save. Danny Cunningham’s right wing delivery was met by James Baker whose header went only just wide of the left hand upright as both sides continued to play some highly attractive football.

Brilliant work from the Sudbury defence denied Mario Noto foraging in the home penalty area and following the clearance, Danny Cunningham curled a free-kick from just outside the Harlow penalty area just wide of the right hand post. Tit for tat this game, Harlow next to be awarded a free-kick and as Marcus Garnham came to grab the delivered set-piece, Ryan Henshaw smuggled the ball behind for a corner kick. This Garnham rose well to punch and the ball was cleared. Dodson then drove a shot over the crossbar before Ben Robinson shot wide of the far post from long-range as the half came to a close.

Half-Time AFC Sudbury 0 Harlow Town 0

Danny Cunningham’s forty-eighth minutes corner from the right defeated defence and attack alike and rolled harmlessly out for a goal kick. Sam Clarke then crossed from the right towards Luke Callander whose superb header was kept out by a wonderful leaping save by David Hughes. Sudbury had started the half well, dominating possession in a way they had been unable to in the opening forty-five. Ryan Henshaw’s cross was headed onto his own crossbar by Ibrahima Sonko as again Sudbury came close to breaking the deadlock. Harlow, in the pattern of the game, broke free, only to see their efforts snuffed out by a fine Jordan Blackwell tackle.

A fifty-sixth minute corner for A.F.C. Sudbury from the left wing was dangerously delivered by Danny Cunningham’s sweet left foot and from its partial clearance Jordan Blackwell fired his shot just over the crossbar. Liam Wales then did really well along the right wing, cut inside and found Luke Callander whose shot flashed just over the Harlow crossbar in a fine move at high pace. Former Sudbury man Leon Antoine almost beat the well-drilled home defence, but the offside flag halted his progression.

On seventy-six minutes Sudbury executed the little-seen triple substitution. Danny Cunningham made way for Stefano Mallardo, George Clarke replaced Sam Clarke and Jordan Blackwell exchanged places with Joe Maybanks. James Baker cleared the ball from the Sudbury goal-line with eight minutes left of the match before Ryan Henshaw cleared with a superb diving header to deny Leon Antoine in the centre of the home defence. The game swung from end to end still, both sides in full denial that this match be in any way meaningless. Hughes grabbed a swinging Henshaw cross before Craig Parker’s finely timed tackle snuffed out a further Harlow attack.

With four added minutes left of the season, Harlow Town made the best of a late free-kick which was only partially cleared. The ball fell to former A.F.C. Sudbury man Piers Wixon, who had only started because Lewis Perkins had been injured in the warm up, who fired a fine shot from an acute angle which flashed into the home goal. It was harsh on the hard working A.F.C. Sudbury side, whose late efforts could not conjure an equaliser, but the final whistle sounded and heralded the cue for the Champions to celebrate their superb season in some style.

A great game of football which provided wonderful entertainment for the crowd of 673 at the Wardale Williams Stadium. Played in a great spirit and sportsmanship, this was a brilliant advertisement for Ryman League Football and we wish Harlow Town well in their endeavours to join us the the Premier Division next season.

Att 673

Richard Whiting