Well there was no pre-Christmas cheer for the AFC supporters as they saw their side slip to another heavy defeat. Again the side appeared lost for a vital fifteen minutes when they conceded three goals. It would have been worse but for an early penalty save by a debutant young goalkeeper.

There was a surprise when the AFC team was announced as the only ever-present player this season, goalkeeper Paul Walker was ruled out with a broken little finger. With normal reserve keeper Luca Collins unavailable Manager Mark Morsley had to call upon former AFC Academy and reserve keeper Curtis Child who left the club in the summer to attend University in Bournemouth and back on leave. Midfielder Ryan Horne also started his first game after his transfer from St Neots Town.

It was Child who was called into action in the fourth minute, Joe Whight was adjudged to taken down Ryan Crisp in the penalty area, and Danny Beaumont stepped and took the spot kick, but Child got down to his right to save.

The respite was not lengthy as a minute later Rhys Logan careered down the right shaking off a half hearted tackle from Billy Holland and with the referee playing an advantage stormed into the penalty area and fired home.

On nine minutes it became two when a though all down the centre of the AFC found Beaumont whose shot seemingly went through the hands of the diving Child. It was Child however who came to the rescue when a mistake from Ian Miller let in Crisp the keeper diverting the shot for a corner.

It became worse for AFC on sixteen minutes when Crisp and Logan combined with the latter shooting home a third Dereham goal. It was in reality game over for the King’s Marsh side.

Jake Clowsley did get a cross in that visiting keeper Elliot Pride palmed down but Reece Dobson was unable to control the ball. Dereham were really controlling the game but Dobson had a shot blocked and Horne had the ball in the net but it was ruled out for offside.

Half Time;- AFC Sudbury 0 Dereham Town 3

There was hope for the home side two minutes after the restart as Ben Hunter hooked the ball home from the edge of the area to pull a goal back.

The hope was soon dissipated when two minutes later from a corner Child failed to punch clear and the ball fell at the feet of Ollie Ebbage and he stroked the ball home for Dereham’s fourth.

Clowsley struck the side netting of the visitors goal before Will Crisell went off to be substituted by Tom Maycock and soon after Dobson went off having been booked and getting injured in the process. Tom Dettmar was his replacement.

The visitors were coasting and saving energy for their Boxing Day fixture and that allowed Maycock to cross and find Hunter but he fired wide when it appeared he should score.

AFC's final chance of a very disappointing afternoon came from the head of Mekhi McKenzie who headed weakly into the arms of Pride.

The final whistle went to send the visitors back home to Norfolk in a joyous mood whilst the home players went away licking their wounds once again.

Att 203

YNOT