At the end that was premature, both sides had no points to show for their efforts over ninety-two minutes and must await a Ryman League and Football Association ruling.

The early ending in second half stoppage time, with AFC leading 2-1 came after the referee decided he could not regain control of a situation that saw nearly all the players and members of the two benches on the field of play involved in various little spats.

The AFC management team were intent on trying to both protect their players and to get the game re-started to ensure they travelled home with the points in the bag.

During the situation a Hendon player who had earlier been yellow carded and later substituted was shown a straight red card and Liam Wales was given a caution.

The game at Silver Jubilee Park, the new home of Hendon was on a 3G pitch but still on a slope, had been an entertaining one up to the early end and had been really the proverbial ‘game of two halves.’ AFC looked by far the best side in the first forty-five minutes, but the second period saw the home side have much the better of proceedings.

Hendon pressed for the first part and it was five minutes before their goalkeeper Berkley Laurencin touched the ball. AFC replied and with Danny Crow up front with James Baker they combined well with Sam Clarke who got the ball in the box but could not sort his feet out to get a shot away.

Kevin Maclaren got on the end of a goal kick and found Kezie Ibe whose shot was tipped wide by Marcus Garnham in the AFC goal for a corner and the AFC was alert to save from it.

With fifteen minutes gone Sudbury took the lead. A right wing corner from Sam Bantick found the head of Ryan Henshaw as he rose to power the ball home.

Ten minutes later and AFC having survived a bit of pressure were two up. Bantick crossed from the right and Craig Parker stole across the near post to put the ball in the back of the net.

Baker was doing good job of protecting the ball when played up to him. The niggles started when Hendon’s Elliott Braithwaite felt Parker had somehow deliberately caught him on his foot. If there was contact it was minimal and came as both players went for the ball. The incident saw a number of home players appearing to try and influence the match official. The referee spoke to both players and the game continued.

From a corner Braithwaite should have scored and then Matt Ball fired wide of the AFC goal. The Hendon Captain Maclaren was booked for a trip on Baker before Karl Oliyide forced Garnham to save and Parker cleared the ball.

Bantick was again the provider, this time from the left side and Parker was unlucky as he overstretched and he put the ball wide.

Half-Time; - Hendon 0 AFC Sudbury 2

The hosts made two changes at the start of the half with Elliott Charles and Reis Stanislaus coming on and they both made a real difference to their side.

It was however AFC who had the first chance as Aidan Austin weaved his way forward with a good run and was topped by being fouled on the edge of the Hendon penalty area. Bantick took the free kick and Laurencin saved low down to give away a corner.

Ten minutes in the half Hendon were getting on top with the ball in and around the AFC penalty area. From a corner Stanislaus headed down goalward and Garnham saved tipping the ball away, then Charles headed over before the Sudbury keeper saved a Sam Murphy shot.

Tyler French did well covering at the back before from a corner Garnham clutched at the ball, it left his grasp and bounced off the head of Oliyide before the Sudbury man regained control.

The two Hendon substitutes were making their presence felt with some good positive football down the right hand side and from a Stanislaus cross Charles fired home.

Maclaren went off and Keagan Cole took his place before Marcel Barrington shot low and wide of the Sudbury goal as the visitors began to wilt and were in danger of not being in the game. Murphy forced Garnham to punch clear before Crow for AFC had a cross held by Laurencin.

Looking to give AFC more legs, Crow went off and Liam Wales took over up front, with Baker dropping back into midfield. Hendon continued to press but a poor effort from Braithwaite was a let off when he was well placed.

Oliyide was the next Hendon man to attempt a goal effort this time from a corner but his header went wide. Wayne Blackman was the next AFC substitute to appear taking over from Bantick and the dual register replacement showed some nice skills.

With time running out AFC made another change this in the ninetieth minute with Dylan Williams taking over from Parker.

Into stoppage time the game went and on the dugout side of the pitch Liam Wales appeared to get the ball but a foul was given against him. Two Hendon players were around the Sudbury player and then with others going to get involved the field of play became full of not only players but also substitutes and management from both sides. The AFC men seemed to be trying to calm things down to get on with the game.

The referee and his assistants were around the situation during which time Williams seeming received damage to his face, and it appeared to have calmed down with a red card shown to Maclaren and a yellow one to Wales.

The unrest continued and despite numerous blasts on his whistle the referee waved his hands seeming indicating that he had abandoned the game. This was by no means a certainty as he walked off and the decision had to be sort out by AFC and Hendon officials and it proved to be the case stating he could not regain control. He is alleged to said that he placed no blame of AFC for the problem.

It was not an ending anyone wants to see at any football match and now the clubs will await a ruling by the governing bodies, but hopefully common sense and sporting sense will prevail.

Att 208

YNOT