Free-scoring Adam Mills returned to the starting eleven following suspension as the home side looked to bounce back after their exit from the Emirates F.A. Cup at Truro after an excellent run in the competition.

Returning to the A.F.C. Sudbury fold was new manager Mark Morsley for his second spell at the helm and he watched the game with interest from the stand as Danny Law’s excellent run as caretaker boss reached its conclusion.

A.F.C. Sudbury attacked from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum seated stand. Any idea that the side might be a little travel-weary following their weekend in Cornwall were quickly put aside as the game began in explosive fashion. On three minutes Maldon and Tiptree goalkeeper Dominic Kurasik slid to clear a dangerous cross and from the resulting melee the visitor’s were forced to clear the ball from their goal-line three times in rapid succession.

Two minutes later Dave Cowley burst in on goal only for his shot to be deflected wide. Maldon and Tiptree responded well and on eleven minutes Julian Smith’s well-judged tackle saw that no danger would be posed to the Sudbury goal. The visitors came closer on eighteen minutes when Ryan Clampin turned neatly to shoot and draw a fine finger-tip save from Paul Walker in the home goal.

To their immense credit the Sudbury defence were as well-organised as has become their standard and Maldon and Tiptree were finding them a very tough proposition to break down. On twenty-three minutes Harvey Brown shot from well outside the home penalty area and over Paul Walker’s goal. Back onto the offensive came A.F.C. Sudbury in the shape of a fine sweeping ball out of midfield by Joe Claridge which was met by the head of Louis Blake but went wide of the target.

Within a minute a neat ball from Sam Clarke found Adam Mills, but his shot sizzled just inches wide of goal with Kurasik beaten. Maldon and Tiptree came again when Ryan Gondoh sent a fine shot towards goal which Paul Walker again met with fingertips and sent safely behind for a corner kick.

Jake Turner was shown yellow for a tackle close to half way and from the resultant free-kick Maldon and Tiptree came close when Renee Johnville hit a shot over the crossbar. Joe Claridge was next to be shown yellow when winning the ball in what looked to be a legitimate and innocuous challenge, he did however throw the ball away in disgust. A rare mistake by Julian Smith set Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe free, but he could only blaze over the bar when well-positioned closing in on goal.

Half-Time;- AFC Sudbury 0 Maldon and Tiptree 0

Dave Cowley joined the queue of yellow cards on fifty-three minutes for a foul on the right wing. Within a minute Tevan Allen was brought crashing down with more force than employed by Cowley, but neither free-kick or yellow card were administered.

Cowley charged down a Maldon and Tiptree clearance, but Louis Blake could only send his shot wide of goal. Dexter Peters shot straight at Paul Walker from a corner kick on sixty-two minutes as the deadlock seemed destined to remain unbroken. However, from a rapid turnover of possession, A.F.C. Sudbury broke free through the centre and Louis Blake honed in on goal, slotting home past Kurasik with some aplomb.

It was almost two on sixty-five minutes when Blake glanced the ball off a boot into the path of Cowley whose shot was excellently blocked by Kurasik at the expense of a corner. Sam Clarke joined the yellow card club, an ever-growing band of members being cautioned for reasons best left un-recorded. Alfie Carroll, not to be left out of the society of the erroneously booked, was signed up within a few minutes.

A.F.C. Sudbury pressure produced three quick-fire corners as the game entered its last quarter, but they were unable to force the second goal. Alfie Carroll put paid to a strong Maldon and Tiptree run with a foul in the penalty box which resulted in a penalty and the inevitable second yellow card for the young defender. Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe obliged form the penalty spot to level the game with a little over ten minutes remaining.

A strong run by Adam Mills saw him knocked unceremoniously off the ball, but no infringement was given. At the other end Ryan Clampin shot just wide of the home goal as both sides sought the winner. Callum Watson for Louis Blake and Ollie Dunlop for Dave Cowley were the home changes as the last ten minutes became the final five. There was still time for Adam Mills to be shown yellow in the final minute of what was a frustrating and rather stop-start game in which bookings were rife yet the game played in a competitive, but never dirty, spirit.

Cup action returns to King’s Marsh on Saturday when Aylesbury United provide the opposition in the Preliminary Round of the F.A. Trophy.

Saturday is Non-League Day meaning that all Under-11’s will be admitted free-of-charge, all parents attending with their children will enter at half-price. This includes our visiting friends from Aylesbury.
We even have the Lady Killers Jazz Band in the King’s Marsh suite from 1.45 to 2.45.
Jazz and cut-priced football at the King’s Marsh!
Tell your friends!

Richard Whiting