Heavy Defeat

On the back of a poor performance at home last time out against Haringey Borough, Manager Mark Morsley decided to make changes for this game. Unfortunately those changes did not appear to work as AFC suffered a heavy defeat and a there was little to cheer the Sudbury supporters on a cold afternoon in Essex.

Three goals in the opening twenty-three minutes really condemned Sudbury to defeat and despite a more spirited second half display another goal was conceded and Witham climbed above AFC in the Bostik North table.

Into the starting line up came Mekhi McKenzie, Milo Grimes and for his first start Kane Munday with Sam Mills, Reece Dobson and Tyler French dropping to the bench.

The early signs on a Spa Road pitch only passed playable some forty-five minutes before kick-off were that the home side were nimble and agile. Jeffrey Gyamfi got in a couple of early dangerous crosses from the right. On the other side they had ex-AFC player in Correy Davidson and he was a constant threat all afternoon.

It was Ben Hunter for AFC who had the first chance as the ball came back to him on the edge of the area and he chose to shoot, he was unable to keep the ball down and it sailed over the bar towards the railway line behind. He then had another shot that was deflected for a corner that came to nothing.

Max Booth chased a long ball into the Witham box and e avoided keeper Bobby Mason and got his foot to the ball but his lob ended on the roof of the net instead of in it.

From then on it became one-way traffic as the home side dominated and in seven minutes scored three times to really put the game out of AFC’s reach.
From a corner Witham got the ball back out to Davidson who curled a shot to the far post giving Paul Walker no chance. The second came when Chinedu Osadebe seeming walked through the Sudbury defence and as he shot Tom Robinson got his foot to it and steered it home. Witham’s third saw Kofi Gyebi stroll around and shoot with the ball taking a deflection as it beat Walker.

Hunter again was free in front of the Witham goal but again his shot was over the crossbar. The home side had a couple of players booked but continued to control the game pressing forward most of the time. Some ten minutes before the interval AFC Captain was passed a written note from the management and that signalled a change of formation to a back four. The half ended with Ian Miller getting in a good block to deny Osadebe.

Two changes at the break saw Tyler French and Will Crisell take over from Milo Grimes and Kane Munday in an attempt to steady the ship and try and get back into the game. Crisell went to right back, French to centre of defence allowing Joe Whight to push forward down the left hand side.

AFC certainly looked a far better outfit for the rest of the game but there was a lack of penetration however from a corner French headed over. Witham countered with Osadebe, Luke Mallett and Davidson combining before the latter shot and Walker saved well at the near post.

Play began to get a little frantic as AFC strived for something out of the game. A Whight free kick found Billy Holland but he fired wide, before Reece Dobson took over from McKenzie.

French put in a trademark diagonal pass that found Max Booth out on the right and he cut in and shot but it was blocked. Dobson then did well initially taking the ball around a defender on the bye line but let himself down by trying to fire the ball into narrowest of angles at the near post.

The visitors were unable to get anything to give them a chance and when French and Walker got in a muddle with aback pass Shamido Pedulu accepted the gift to tap home the fourth goal and kill off the game.

An attendance of only seventy-seven witnessed the game many of them AFC supporters who went away unhappy with their team’s efforts.

YNOT