A.F.C.Sudbury welcomed fellow Suffolk Ryman Premier side Leiston to the Wardale Williams Stadium for a quick return league fixture following Leiston’s 2-1 win at Victory Road at the end of September.

Leiston kicked off the game attacking from right to left as viewed from the Brian Tatum seated stand. Dylan Williams produced a fine early run for A.F.C. Sudbury along the left wing, but mis-placed passes defined the opening exchanges as both sides looked to settle. On nine minutes Rob Eagle hooked the ball into Luke Callander’s path, but his pass for Sam Bantick to chase was gathered by Jacob Marsden in the Leiston goal.

A tenth minute Leiston corner from the left delivered by Patrick Brothers was excellently grabbed by Marcus Garnham displaying complete control of his penalty area. On twelve minutes Leiston wrestled the initiative with a very well-worked goal. Ollie Brown broke out of defence and stormed along the right wing. He delivered a pass into Matt Blake who fired home from a tight angle on the right past Marcus Garnham. Almost immediately A.F.C. Sudbury were forced into a change with Jack Wilkinson was helped off the park and Jordan Blackwell coming on in his place.

There was controversy on seventeen minutes when Jack Ainsley was brought down in the penalty area by Sam Clarke and a penalty seemed inevitable, but no decision was forthcoming. Byron Lawrence ended a fast Leiston break with a cross which was easily cleared by the Sudbury defence. A right wing corner from Lawrence just minutes later fell to Gareth Heath whose header was superbly saved by Marcus Garnham.

At the other end Rob Eagle on the left edge of the penalty area sent a stinging drive just right of the right hand post following excellent work in midfield by Sam Clarke. Luke Callander then held the ball up well following a pass from Dylan Williams, but his ball into Sam Bantick saw the Sudbury number seven’s shot blocked and cleared by the Leiston defence.

The first yellow card of the night went to James Baker when he clattered into Matt Blake on half way and there could have been few complaints. Byron Lawrence delivered a deep free-kick which was partially cleared by the home defence before Adam Tann cooly headed the ball back to Marcus Garnham.

From a Gareth Heath left wing corner the ball fell to Jack Ainsley in space, but his shot was screwed high over the home crossbar as the excellent chance was spurned. Adam Tann stretched well to cut out Blake’s dangerous cross and Ryan Henshaw did really well to dispossess Christy Finch as the visitors continued to pose serious questions of the home defence going into the half-time break.

Half-Time;- AFC Sudbury 0 Leiston 1

Jordan Blackwell’s fine right wing run at pace saw his cross easily dealt with by the Leiston defence. Any hopes of a Sudbury come-back were then seemingly dashed when from the counter a left wing cross saw Leiston with men to spare in the home penalty area and former A.F.C. Sudbury favourite Gareth Heath slotted the ball past Marcus Garnham. This coming just seventy-two second from the start of the half.

The goal prompted a change from Sudbury as Sam Bantick made way for Aidan Austin, just four minutes into the half. Luke Callander worked space on the edge of a crowded penalty area, but his shot lacked venom and was an easy gather for Marsden. The first Leiston caution of the night went to Ollie Brown when he saw yellow for a poor challenge on Callander. Sudbury were gaining some momentum in possession, but carving out chances was proving a very difficult task as Leiston’s defence refused to yield.

Just after the hour, the busy and difficult to handle Matt Blake broke free down the centre and only a fine save by Marcus Garnham from his lob kept the Leiston striker from grabbing his second of the night. With twenty minutes left, Rob Eagle’s excellent drive was saved by a dive to his right by Marsden who was being tested far more frequently in the second half by the home side.

Two minutes later and Rob Eagle forced another save from Marsden with a low shot. Blake again threatened the home goal, but Adam Tann timed his tackle to perfection to snuff out the awkward situation. With seventeen minutes remaining, Sudbury’s last change of the night was executed when Liam Wales came on for Luke Callander.

Entering the last quarter Sudbury were unlucky not to get a goal back when Marsden fumbled a punch and following an exchange of shots and blocks, James Baker had an effort deflected wide for a corner. From the clearance Craig Parker tested Marsden with a low drive which again was equalled by the visitor’s ‘keeper falling low to save.

On seventy eight minutes the game was effectively decided as a contest when Patrick Brother’s low left-wing cross cannoned off James Baker for an own-goal. Byron Lawrence and Jordan Blackwell then had an exchange of physicality and views and the Sudbury man found his name being taken. With a minute of normal time remaining, Liam Wales took advantage of a slip by a Leiston defender, took possession and finished really well past Marsden.

In the remaining time Adam Tann also found his way into the referee's notebook.

It was too little, too late for the home side against what is, after all, a very good Leiston side who are battling for promotion at the top of the table. A.F.C. Sudbury move on to F.A. Trophy action on Saturday when they travel to Kings Langley in the Third Qualifying Round.

Att 286

Richard Whiting