Point Apiece

An away game against the bottom of the table team for AFC and despite not gaining all three points Jamie Godbold ‘s side did not lose and a 1-1 draw was probably the right on the day.

There were a couple of changes from the previous fixture. Alfie Carroll took the place of Tyler French who received a facial injury in an Ipswich Town trial match earlier in the week. Rob Eagle (pictured) was fit enough to start, but he would not finish, Dylan Williams went to the bench.

It was misty day in the North West of London and after a three hour trip to do the seventy seven miles the players found the pitch in good condition.

It was the home side that had an early problem as Sahr Kabba went down and play was stopped and he had to go off eventually to hospital with a dislocated finger that could not be put back by either physio.

AFC had a couple of early chances with Parker having one that lacked any real power. Harrow won a corner and tried a bomb burst formation but it failed to create any real problem.

Francis Babalola got away but Marcus Garnham easily saved his cross before setting up a breakaway via Aidan Austin and ended with Sam Clarke firing wide of the Harrow goal.

The visitors midway through the half kept the pressure on, Sam Bantick
had a shot blocked for a corner and from it Eagle had another saved. Harrow replied with Lewis Driver bursting through but a fine tackle by Ryan Henshaw denied him conceding a corner. From it James Baker headed away and Josh Webb headed over the bar.

Baker had to leave the field to seek attention for a bloody nose and while he did so the hosts went in front. Joshua Webb got down the left side and crossed to far post and there to head home was Driver.

The lead lasted only two minutes, a free kick on the right was set up with the opposition expecting Rob Eagle to cross the ball, the AFC man however fired the ball goalwards and inside the near post beating the unsuspecting keeper Luke Williams.

Garnham in his 100th game for AFC was called into action in the final minute of the half as he saved brilliantly coming out to save at the feet of the inrushing Driver.

Half Time; - Harrow Borough 1 AFC Sudbury 1

AFC made a change at the start of the half Eagle not returning due to a reoccurrence of his recent muscle strain, Dylan Williams replaced him.
Erkan Okay soon found himself booked for a robust challenge, his fourth yellow card in four games! He will now miss AFC’s next two fixtures.

Henshaw was then heavily involved making several tackles to deny Harrow, conceding a corner from one. From it Carroll cleared off the line from Taylor and then Michael Peacock fired over the crossbar.

From a Bantick free kick Craig Parker had a chance but he was only able to head wide of the Borough goal. Bantick was then fouled and Taylor was booked for it.

Just past the hour mark Luke Callander was introduced with Parker going off. Webb was booked for bringing down Williams in full flow. Callander fed by Baker had a shot on the turn but it was weak and easily saved.

AFC were getting on top, Callander had another effort blocked by Shaun Preddie and the Sudbury man appeared to jolt a previous injury. Henshaw became a victim of the referee’s notebook for a somewhat innocuous foul.

The home side made two substitutions to try and win the game and they did help them press forward, but AFC were also looking for all three points. Okay had a shot saved with the ball coming out to Clarke but the AFC skipper fired over.

Garnham excelled as he flung himself full length to his right to steer away a fierce goalbound shot from Webb. The same player a few moments later crossed and the ball came off the crossbar.

Liam Wales came on for James Baker for the final few minutes and had a great chance to fed Callander when free on the right but the substitute failed with his cross.

The final whistle went and it was a point on the road that keeps AFC in the middle of the table.

Att 157

YNOT