AFC went into the game looking to build on their last performance and they did so taking all three points against a good visiting side. The victory was by a solitary Adam Tann header in the first half and keeps the side in eighteenth place in the table.

Manager Jamie Godbold included new signing midfielder Kieran Monlouis in the starting line-up and had his other capture Tevan Allen on the bench. Rob Eagle returned to the starting line up after missing the last game through illness.

Worthing only arrived at The Wardale Williams Stadium some forty-five minutes before kick-off after their three and half hour journey from the Sussex coast. They had goalkeeper Joe Taylor making his debut.

AFC kicked off and had the first chance when James Baker shot just wide from the edge of the penalty area. Adam Tann made a great tackle on the half way line to stop Worthing’s Aaron Hopkinson in his tracks.

Monlouis showed that he has something about him as he strode forward collecting a Tyler French pass. Hopkinson got in the visitors first real effort as he shot and Marcus Garnham saved low down, and Lloyd Dawes should have done better with a cross he received from the same player.

Sam Clarke put in a cross that Taylor gathered at the second attempt. From a corner Worthing’s Gary Elphick got his head to the ball but fortunately for Sudbury it went wide of the goal. French then did well playing in Baker his shot winning a corner from which the ball came to Danny Crow whose shot was blocked and earned another corner.

AFC had been on the front foot and on the thirty minute mark went in front. Following a corner Eagle out on the right hand side crossed and there was Adam Tann to head home his second goal of the season.

There were then two more chances for the home side with Monlouis and Crow both fired shots, one wide, one over.

Worthing nearly drew level six minutes before the break. A rare mistake by French let in Harvey Sparks and he fired hard and low and Garnham got down well to deny him. The AFC keeper then pushed over a well-struck free kick by Brannon O’Neil to keep the home side in front at the interval.

Half Time; - AFC Sudbury 1 Worthing 0

There was almost a goal for the visitors shorty after the restart. Sparks broke away, with the assistant referee raising his flag then putting it down, the AFC defence stopped momentarily as the Worthing man burst away. Fortunately the move came to nothing as the ball was swept wide.

Elphick shot over as the Sussex men attempted to get the equaliser and then AFC’s Crow tried to lob Taylor in the visitors goal with the keeper off his line but he got back to save.

Sam Clarke went off and Joe Wright, who had performed admirably in the last game came on. Hopkinson was booked and soon replaced by Ross Edwards. Kane Wills became the second Worthing booking.

Crow went down and was able to continue but limping, he did however deliver a cross that Baker headed on and found Liam Wales but he headed over the bar. Garnham saved low down after Edwards got in a shot.

Worthing thought they had equalised when O’Neill crossed from the right at the far post Dawes put the ball into the net. The assistant referee’s flag was however raised giving an offside decision to save AFC.

Allen came on for his debut replacing Crow before Eagle took a booking for alleged time wasting.

There then came a pantomime moment. Worthing keeper Taylor came out to edge of his box and ended up on the floor. He stayed there but play continued and Aidan Austin on the left hand side saw an empty goal fired a shot goalward and only a very timely interception on the goaline by Sam Rents stopped the ball going over the line. Meanwhile the referee went to enquire about Taylor’s wellbeing, where upon he jumped up and starting remonstrating with the official. Unsurprisingly he was booked.

Edwards was then booked for Worthing. From a corner Ryan Henshaw headed over as time was running out, although the visitors continued to press forward but were wasteful with their crosses.

Alfie Carroll was AFC’s last substitute taking the place of Eagle who had done well all evening. Wright had a chance to increase the lead as he got his foot to a Wales cross but the ball went into the side netting.

There was still time for more bookings a push and a shove in the corner area saw Austin and Wales cautioned with the referee then showing Wales a second yellow and a red card. There were protests as the AFC man had not been previously booked and after consulting with his assistant rescinded the second yellow. He however showed a card of the yellow variety to Worthing’s O’Neill and shortly afterwards to their Louis Clark.

It was never a dirty game and the amount of cautions was somewhat over the top.

The final whistle went and it was a well-deserved three points for AFC and keeps them going in the right direction.

Att 153

YNOT