AFC travelled to deepest Sussex and ‘The Rocks’ of Bognor Regis Town in search of three more points to add to their early season total that has them at sixth place in the Ryman Premier League table. They did not gain any but probably deserved at least one after a great second half display.
Manager Jamie Godbold had a number of team selection problems to content with, striker Luke Callander was a non-starter due to his knee injury, defender Anthony Furlonge declared himself unfit with a hamstring strain, while Ben Robinson was unavailable. Skipper Sam Clarke came into the squad taking a place on the substitute’s bench along with two of AFC Academy boys in striker Callum Watson and goalkeeper Luca Collins.
The weather in the popular seaside resort was typical of this time of the year, rainy and in the second period of the game very wet!
The starting line up had Jack Newman in the unaccustomed position of right back with Adam Tann and Ryan Henshaw in the centre of defence and James Baker taking up a role in midfield.
The home side started brightly and Marcus Garnham was soon in action, before James Baker blasted a shot very high over the crossbar. The AFC number one was soon making a number of saves to keep his side in the game.
The home side were playing out from the back with some neat passing football.
AFC’s Adam Tann found his way into the referee’s note book for a late tackle, one of a number he has picked up in recent weeks.
Four minutes before the break Bognor took the lead, Parsons was allowed room in the Sudbury penalty area and rose to head home giving Garnham no chance.
Half-Time;- Bognor Regis Town 1 AFC Sudbury 0
The visitors started much brighter and were pushing forward at every opportunity, but it was the home side that had the first real chance but the ball went over Garnham’s head and crossbar.
Manager Godbold decided to make a double substitution with twenty minutes to go, taking off Jordan Blackwell and Aaron Greene and replacing them with the two Sams, Clarke and Bantick.
On eighty minutes AFC were level. The home sides nice passing football broke down in their penalty area Sam Calrke got the ball got it to the foot of Jack Newman and he got it into the back of the net.
Unfortunately ‘The Rocks’ equalised only two minutes later. Newman committed a foul tugging a Bognor shirt, the referee appeared to being going to book someone, the home side took the free-kick quickly, the ball going out wide and then crossed into where Fraser was there to put it away.
The final minutes saw AFC constantly attack getting crosses in but unable to penetrate the home defence. Garnham even went up for a couple of corners but ‘The Rocks’ stood firm to take the points
Att 511
YNOT