Great Entertaining Victory

Unbeaten A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Enfield Town to the Wardale Williams Stadium with new signing Dave Cowley returning to the fold.

Enfield Town kicked off the match attacking from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. The visitors were awarded a first minute free-kick. Nathan Livings delivered into the home penalty area where Craig Parker rose to head clear. A second free-kick in rapid succession saw Billy Crook send a teasing ball in the box which Marcus Garnham punched clear with commanding authority.

Sudbury came back to assert some command of their own on the match. First, a wonderful switch from the centre of the park by Luke Callander to Sam Bantick on the right wing saw the Sudbury man dispossessed as he entered the penalty area and then Callander did well to hold the ball up for Adam Tann to shoot only to see his effort blocked. Callander was again in the thick of the action, finding Rob Eagle with a cross. His header was cleared from the goal-line as Sudbury continued to dictate terms.

Craig Parker found Aaron Greene whose cross was gathered by Enfield ‘keeper Nathan McDonald, a former AFC Sudbury player, marshalling his area well. On nine minutes Tyler Campbell threatened briefly in the home penalty area, but Adam Tann responded with a finely judged sliding tackle.

A.F.C. Sudbury took the lead after thirteen minutes. Sam Clarke sent a high ball out of defence which fell to Sam Bantick. His deep cross was turned back across the penalty area from the left wing where Adam Tann was on hand to head home from seven yards.

Tyler Campbell’s low shot was a comfortable save for Marcus Garnham before Campbell again looked to be breaking through the Sudbury back line, but Sam Bantick stopped the tricky midfielder with a superb tackle. James Baker released Luke Callander who turned Curtis Ujah on the left edge of the penalty area and sent a shot high over the crossbar.

On twenty-one minutes Sam Bantick evaded three Enfield tackles on the right touchline by halfway and sent the ball a tantalising fraction ahead of Rob Eagle who was bearing down on goal. A twenty-fourth minute Enfield corner from the left evaded attack and defence alike and was cleared. On twenty-nine minutes the visitors threatened again, but Sam Clark’s challenge was brilliantly timed and Ryan Henshaw was on hand to clear.

The busy and hard to handle Sam Bantick found Rob Eagle on the edge of the Enfield penalty area and his quick shot travelled just wide of the right hand post. There was a scare for A.F.C. Sudbury on thirty-two minutes when Nigel Neita broke through only to be flagged for offside.

On thirty-five minutes A.F.C. Sudbury went two goals ahead. Aaron Greene (pictured) found Rob Eagle and from the return curled a sublime shot from outside the penalty area into the net past the despairing dive of McDonald.

Billy Crook’s forty-first minute corner from the left was headed clear by a well-placed Ryan Henshaw positioned just ahead of the goal-line. Enfield Town piled on some late pressure as the half came to an end, but the tough and resolute Sudbury defence coped comfortably to maintain their lead to the whistle.

Half-Time AFC Sudbury 2 Enfield Town 0

Marcus Garnham saved superbly from Tyler Campbell on forty-seven minutes as the visitors started the half with real purpose. Garnham was then well-place to deal with a speculative effort from Harry Ottaway from just outside the penalty area. At the other end, McDonald failed to reach a back-pass as Luke Callander whipped the ball away. His cross from the goal-line on the right came to nothing as the ball slid harmlessly away to safety.

Sam Clarke found Sam Bantick with a fine pass and the ball was rapidly developed upfield by Dave Cowley and Craig Parker before Aaron Greene’s shot was blocked following a wonderful flowing move. Nigel Neita looked dangerous on the edge of the home penalty area, but Ryan Henshaw shepherded him wide and the danger was skilfully averted. On fifty-five minutes Enfield had another guilt-edged chance when Tyler Campbell broke free on goal. His shot from six yards was superbly blocked by Marcus Garnham at the expense on a corner and to the loud applause of the crowd.

Samir Bihmoutine ran brilliantly into the home box on the left, only to be dispossessed by a James Baker tackle as he bore down on goal. McDonald joined the great save club by denying Rob Eagle, before Campbell’s curling shot was saved by Marcus Garnham with a stop which trumped all that had passed before. Garnham then rose to gather the right wing corner kick with ease as if to hammer home his complete control of his penalty area.

James Baker saw yellow when he seemed to have executed a fine tackle just outside the A.F.C. Sudbury penalty area. It was a harsh decision, let alone yellow card, but Enfield Town substitute Kelvin Bossman sent his free-kick straight into the arms of Garnham.

Adam Tann’s pass to Luke Callander saw the Sudbury number nine quickly feed Dave Cowley whose shot wrapped the Enfield upright. There was confusion and panic in the visitor’s penalty area before the ball was finally cleared. With thirteen minutes remaining Sam Bantick’s superb afternoon came to an end with the introduction of Jack Newman and Luke Callander, another brilliant shift completed, was replaced by Liam Wales.

Newman immediately effected a pass into Dave Cowley whose shot was a comfortable save for McDonald. Liam Wales then threatened to run through the heart of the Enfield defence, but the ball clipped his heels and was cleared. Dave Cowley’s impressive return ended with Tyler French brought on for the remaining five minutes and the Sudbury number four left the pitch to warm applause.

A.F.C. Sudbury endured some late Enfield Town pressure, but held firm to record a first home win of the season and continue their fine start to life in the Ryman Premier Division.

Att 362

Richard Whiting