Only A Point

A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Canvey Island to the Wardale Williams Stadium for the final fixture of 2016. Sudbury were looking for a victory to create some festive momentum with another Wardale Williams Stadium match on Monday afternoon when Lowestoft Town visit South Suffolk.

A.F.C. Sudbury kicked off the game attacking from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. The first chance came in the second minute when Luke Callander curled a shot wide of the right hand post. Canvey responded with Callum Ibe breaking down the park and winning a right wing corner with a deflection. Ashley Dumas delivered and Adam Tann was on hand on the near post to head decisively clear. Tyler French then found Sam Bantick on the right and his cross was met by Luke Callander rising simultaneously with Lewis Moore in the Canvey goal. A free-kick was awarded and the promising move proved profitless. A precision pass from Rob Eagle found Aidan Austin whose cross was brilliantly delivered and caused Moore to rise and punch the ball decisively clear. George Sykes then gained possession on the left, but his shot was easily blocked as the home side again denied the visitors a gilt-edged chance.

A Ryan Henshaw free-kick reached Luke Callander, but his header was put behind for a home corner. The game was often scrappy, with neither side being able to take a real grip on possession and carve out chances. The tall George Sykes threatened to break free on twenty-four minutes, but a dalliance in possession saw Tyler French put in the decisive defensive tackle. Canvey were awarded a free-kick on thirty-four minutes. Harrison Chatting laid the ball off for Callum Ibe who blasted high over the home crossbar from just outside the penalty area. There was further danger for A.F.C. Sudbury a minute later when Ibe sent a speculative drive off a home boot for a corner. Ashley Dumas delivered from the right and the ball fizzed though the six-yard box requiring what proved to be an elusive boot to poke it home.

On thirty-nine minutes A.F.C. Sudbury grabbed the lead. Sam Bantick, charging along the left wing and sent a superb cross in to the heart of the Canvey defence where Luke Callander rose to loop a header over Moore and into the net. Just three minutes later and Bantick again found Callander in a central position whose shot was superbly parried by the busy Moore. Just before the break, Luke Callander seemed to have been brought down inside the penalty area, but a free-kick just outside was awarded and another chance to double the lead faded away.

Half-Time;- AFC Sudbury 1 Canvey Island -0

Dylan Williams jinxed past two Canvey midfielders to release Luke Callander who chipped a shot wide of the left hand post. Aidan Austin went on a fine run which was curtailed by a poorly-timed tackle on halfway, Ryan Blackman seeing yellow for the challenge. A sweeping Sudbury move with Rob Eagle, Craig Parker and Sam Bantick exchanging swift, neat passes, saw the latter stinging the hands of Lewis Moore who did well to cling on to the ball. On sixty-one minutes Canvey Island drew level. As with the home goal, the visitor’s reply was a rare moment of real quality to brighten the game. Ryan Blackman was sent through the heart of the defence by George Sykes and his swift, mazy run saw him curl the ball neatly past Marcus Garnham. Sudbury responded immediately with Luke Callander making way for substitute Liam Wales.

Sudbury weren’t finished with their endeavour. Craig Parker exchanged quickly with Liam Wales and his ball for Bantick to chase was gathered at his feet by Moore. On seventy-eight minutes Jack Wilkinson came on for Rob Eagle as the home side looked to freshen up and go for the win. It was Canvey who almost grabbed a lead when Harrison Chatting sent a lob towards goal which looped over Marcus Garnham and crashed clear off the crossbar. Sudbury saw both Tyler French and Sam Bantick booked following a touchline altercation with three minutes left on the clock. Again Canvey had a chance to seal the points when George Sykes latched onto a Ryan Henshaw clearance and tried to round Adam Tann. Tann slipped, but a hesitant Sykes shot only for Marcus Garnham to respond with a superb block.

Three minutes of added time couldn’t separate the sides and the shared points looked to be a fair outcome from a scrappy, yet determined afternoon of football. Both sides had their chances and both ‘keepers produced excellent saves, whilst the respective defences were well-drilled and resolute all afternoon. Lowestoft Town make the journey over to the Wardale Williams on Monday afternoon, as the busy Christmas fixture list moves on.

Att 360

Richard Whiting