A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Cheshunt to the King’s Marsh Stadium with the home side looking for a first home victory since February 17th. A youthful home side would field nine Academy players before the afternoon was out as manager Mark Morsley continues to show great faith in the Club’s youth.

A.F.C. Sudbury attacked from right to left in the first half as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. In the second minute Alec Fiddes latched onto a booming throw-on from the right by Ricky Sappleton, but his shot went well over Paul Walker’s crossbar.

The hosts were forced to make a change after only three minutes when Billy Holland came off worse in a clash of heads close to half-way. Ollie Gravett came off the bench after a short delay. Emiel Aiken shot from range for the visitors, but Paul Walker was well placed in his goal to gather comfortably. Cheshunt again went for the Sappleton long throw, this time Amadou Kassarate sending a header high over the home crossbar.

On twelve minutes Sudbury broke down field and Ryan Horne’s cross reached Joe Wright who shot narrowly wide from just outside the penalty area. Sudbury were finding their feet nicely and beginning to dictate possession. Two minutes later the debut making Callum Harrison sent a fine shot just wide of goal and into the side-netting. Harrison again came to the fore when his shot was parried by Harry Girling in the Cheshunt goal. Phil Kelly followed up only to see Girling pull off a fabulous save to deny the home side the lead.

The next Sudbury attack saw the busy Callum Harrison find Phil Kelly whose shot went wide from distance. Kelly was unlucky not to open the scoring on twenty-four minutes when his swerving, dipping shot was superbly pushed around the post by Girling. It was all A.F.C. Sudbury by now, the resultant corner from Kane Munday was excellently delivered as Ollie Gravett shot over the cross bar from the edge of the penalty area as the ball fell temptingly at his feet.

Cheshunt’s best effort of the half thus far saw Jason Hallett swerving a shot which fizzed menacingly past the left-hand apex of the home goal. Joe Wright then sent Ollie Gravett free with a sublime pass, only for the Sudbury substitute to be unceremoniously dumped to the ground by Jeramy Agholor who received a yellow card for his foul. Wright once again sent a fine ball forward, this time a free-kick finding Phil Kelly whose rapid shot once again pulled a fine save out of Girling in the Cheshunt goal.

On thirty-three minutes Jason Hallet was shown a straight red card for using an elbow on Tyler French, the Sudbury number six requiring treatment before being able to resume the game.

Four minutes from the break and A.F.C Sudbury came close to taking the lead. Phil Kelly released Ryan Horne whose shot defeated Girling only to strike the post. Kelly latched onto the rebound only to send his shot agonisingly wide. A minute later the goal did materialise. Phil Kelly released Ollie Gravett wide on the right and his cross, as he cut inside, took a deflection off the outstretched boot of Sappleton, wrong-footed Girling and nestling in the net.

Half Time:- AFC Sudbury 1 Cheshunt 0

Cheshunt started the half strongly, the ten men looking to press their hosts. A scramble in the home area saw Amadou Kassarate fire over the crossbar as once again, the Sudbury defence worked hard, and effectively, to keep danger at bay. Former A.F.C. Sudbury striker L’Heureux Menga raced clear, but his shot was deflected for a corner. From that set-piece Ricky Sappleton headed over the crossbar.

Menga then sliced a shot wide of the home goal before Alec Fiddes' strong, surging run ended with a shot well wide of goal. On fifty-six minutes Sudbury had wrestled a two goal lead, one that their dominance had thoroughly deserved.

A quickly taken free-kick reached Phil Kelly wide on the right wing and he honed in on goal to send a sublime chip over Girling and into the net. Ollie Gravett’s hard-working afternoon ended on seventy-three minutes with Ben Hunter coming on in his place.

Another long Ricky Sappleton throw was touched forward by Kassarate, Paul Walker alert off his line to gather safely. On eighty minutesTom Dettmar came on to replace Callum Harrison, whose debut for the home side had been highly impressive. Ryan Horne cut in from the left wing to fire his shot wide of the right hand post as the home side continued to trouble Chestnut at the back.

With three minutes remaining any doubt about a possible comeback were quashed when Phil Kelly’s surging run saw his low cross expertly turned home by Ryan Horne with the ball deflecting in off a defender.

An excellent all-round team performance sees A.F.C. Sudbury back to winning ways. The young defence were outstanding all afternoon led by the redoubtable Tyler French and with all players working hard to win second ball and important challenges, the decisive goals always looked to be a matter of time and patience from being achieved.

On Monday the busy Easter fixtures continue with the short trip to Ram Meadow where local rivals Bury Town provide the opposition.

Richard Whiting