A. F. C. Sudbury returned to Ryman League Premier Division action with third-placed Havant and Waterlooville providing the opposition. James Baker returned to the bench following his Saturday absence due to work commitments, recent signing Danny Crow took the number seven shirt whilst Sam Bantick dropped to the bench.

After a slow start by both sides, Marcus Garnham was well placed to stop the opening shot of the match when he easily got behind a long-range effort by Ed Harris. An eighth minute right wing corner won by Liam Wales saw Rob Eagle’s delivery gathered comfortably by Havant and Waterlooville ‘keeper Ryan Young.

On thirteen minutes A.F.C Sudbury came close when Liam Wales found Craig Parker in a central position whose shot carried just wide of the right hand post. At the other end Ryan Henshaw was dispossessed by Alfie Rutherford who ran towards goal before firing a sliced shot wide of the right hand post when excellently placed.

Both sides had suddenly come alive in the attacking sense and on eighteen minutes Dylan Williams released Rob Eagle in an advanced position whose shot was brilliantly saved by Ryan Young diving to his right. Havant responded with Bradley Tarbuck firing over the home crossbar while under the close attentions of Adam Tann in the A.F.C. Sudbury defence.

On twenty minutes the home side again came close when Dylan Williams swept the ball to Rob Eagle the left wing. His ball into the box found Danny Crow who turned and sent a shot wide of the left hand upright. Both sides found respective defences in organised and determined form and chances were few and far between, as had been the case in the opening minutes of the encounter.

It was again the home side who threatened next on thirty-four minutes when Rob Eagle’s precision pass sliced open the Havant and Waterlooville back line. Liam Wales gave chase, but Ryan Young raced from his line to slide the ball away with his feet. A minute later and a superbly timed tackle by Sam Clarke denied Alfie Rutherford a golden opportunity for the visitors and the danger was averted.

With a couple of minutes remaining in the half, Rob Eagle’s strong run saw his cross cleared by Rory Williams ahead of the on-rushing Dylan Williams as Sudbury ended the half very much in the game against their high-flying opponents.

Half -Time AFC Sudbury 0 Havant and Waterlooville 0

Sudbury had an early scare when Alfie Rutherford broke free, but he screwed his shot wide left of the home goal when well-placed. Rob Eagle sent another fine ball into Dylan Williams, but the visitor’s defence were alert and quickly sent the ball to safety. Havant and Waterlooville almost opened the scoring just after the hour mark.

A Bradley Tarbuck corner fell to Theo Lewis after a scramble and his shot was superbly saved by Marcus Garnham before being cleared by Sam Clarke. A free-kick on the right, mid-way into the visitor’s half following a foul on Danny Crow by George Barker saw the Havant man shown the yellow card. Aidan Austin whipped the set-piece strongly towards goal, but Young was perfectly positioned to hold on to the ball.

A double substitution followed for the home side on sixty-nine with James Baker replacing Danny Crow and Adam Tann making way for Alfie Carroll. Within a minute Havant and Waterlooville took the lead. Rory Williams broke strongly through the centre of the park and fired low past Marcus Garnham. James Hayter then hit a shot high over the crossbar as the third-placed side shed their frustration and grew in confidence. It was two nil on seventy four minutes when Bradley Tarbuck tee-ed up a twenty yard drive which flashed into the corner of the net.

Craig Parker set up Sam Clarke with thirteen minutes remaining, but his shot travelled wide of the left hand post. A fine right wing run by Tyler French saw his dangerous cross headed clear as Sudbury continued to press hard despite the deficit. Sam Clarke made way for Sam Bantick with just over ten minutes of the game remaining.

On eighty-three minutes George Barker crashed a shot against the A.F.C. Sudbury crossbar following a huge scramble, but Mathew Paterson’s follow-up header was quickly ruled offside. A further chance fell to Barker in injury time, the visitor’s substitute hitting a shot just wide of the home goal.

After a promising first-half when they carved out some good chances, a quick-fire double by Havant and Waterlooville wrestled the points from the home side. On Saturday A.F.C. Sudbury travel to Hendon before a Wednesday night fixture at Leatherhead.
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Att 154

Richard Whiting