A. F. C. Sudbury welcomed league leaders Bognor Regis Town to the Wardale Williams Stadium for what promised to be a difficult game as the home side looked for vital points in their fight against the drop. James Baker was making his 300th appearance for A.F.C. Sudbury, a superb achievement.

Bognor Regis Town kicked off the game kicking from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum seated stand. A.F. C. started strongly and on two minutes young Ollie Dunlop making his full debut, sent a fine header to the feet of Danny Crow who sent a shot just wide of the right hand post. A minute on and Rob Eagle’s cross reached Craig Parker who screwed his shot wide, but it was a positive opening from the home side.

The game had opened brightly and the visitors first threatened on five minutes when James Muitt rushed forward only to send his shot well wide. The blow for blow opening theme continued. On eight minutes Dylan Williams’ excellent run saw him find Ollie Dunlop whose ball into Danny Crow, the Sudbury number nine shot goal-wards for Dan Lincoln to gather with comfort. With openings created, but no chances taken, Sudbury were made to pay immediately. A precision cross from deep on the left wing from James Wild found James Muitt in acres of space to drill his header past Marcus Garnham.

A.F.C. Sudbury responded well with the industrious Dunlop finding Craig Parker in a central position and his shot drawing a fine block from Lincoln in the visitor’s goal. On eleven minutes Dylan Williams’ left wing corner was hit against the crossbar by Parker as luck continued to evade the home side. Danny Crow fell in the Bognor Regis penalty area on fifteen minutes, but the penalty appeals were less than convincing and no spot kick was awarded.

On nineteen minutes Sudbury’s task became mountainous when James Baker was shown a straight red for a challenge made outside the penalty area on James Wild who was racing clear. Red seemed harsh, but the free-kick was ably dealt with by Adam Tann with a strong clearance. The strong-running Muitt then sent a dangerous-looking cross fizzing across the home penalty area, but Marcus Garnham did well to leap out and claim. Sudbury had an escape just before the half-hour when Harvey Whyte thundered a shot against the post and Calvin Davis sent the follow-up high over the crossbar.

On thirty-one minutes it was 2-0 to Bognor when James Fraser launched a long pass into the path of James Muitt who rounded Rob Eagle in the home penalty area and fired past Marcus Garnham with comfort. Two minutes on and Craig Parker’s shot was blocked and fell to Ollie Dunlop whose shot flew wide of Dan Lincoln’s goal. Dunlop then sent a neat pass for Danny Crow to latch onto and send in a shot, but again Lincoln was well-placed and gathered easily.

Five minutes from the break and Marcus Garnham blocked well as Muitt again threatened the home goal. In injury-time James Fraser rose really well to head powerfully wide from a Darren Budd corner kick as Sudbury kept the deficit to two at the break.

Half -Time;- AFC Sudbury 0 Bognor Regis Town 2

The visitors began the half well, James Muitt turned provider with a fine cross from which Harvey Whyte’s header was turned onto the post with a trademark moment of superb goal-keeping from Marcus Garnham. However a mistake on fifty-five minutes saw James Muitt given just the opening he needed to ram home his hat-trick from the right hand side of the home penalty area.

On fifty-six minutes Ollie Dunlop hit a shot just wide for the home side and was denied the goal his endeavour deserved. Tyler French took to the 3G on fifty-eight minutes with Danny Crow making way. On the hour hat-trick hero Muitt was booked for a poor challenge on Dylan Williams on half-way before Sudbury made a further switch with another young player Mekhi McKenzie, making his debut replacing the impressive Ollie Dunlop.

Dylan Williams then picked up a yellow card before Bognor Regis Town added a fourth when Darren Budd hit a shot from the right edge of the penalty area and into the net.

Bognor substitute Alex Parsons had a shot blocked and cleared away on seventy-three minutes as Sudbury looked to salvage at least some pride from the game. With eleven minutes left Craig Parker was fouled in the penalty area by Doug Tuck. Parker’s penalty was saved by Dan Lincoln in the Bognor goal and Rob Eagle, latching into the lose ball, hit it wide of the left hand post. When it isn't your day it just isn't your day!

Aidan Austin came on late in the day for A.F.C. Sudbury to replace Dylan Williams and managed a quick-fire yellow card to boot.

What was always going to be a difficult game for A.F.C. Sudbury against the league leaders proved to be just that, a task made more difficult with the early, and harsh red card which all but spoilt the game as a spectacle and contest.

Things get no easier next Saturday when A.F.C. Sudbury will hope to upset play-off hopefuls Tunbridge Angels before welcoming Needham Market to The Wardale Williams Stadium on Easter Monday.

Att 362

Richard Whiting