AFC Sudbury travelled to Soham Town Rangers on Saturday and with two early first half goals sealed all three points with a solid performance.
AFC Sudbury’s squad had a few absentee’s with Joe Whight and Tom Monk missing long with the suspended Phil Kelly. Paul Hayes had the captains armband again.
The match started on a wet and windy day with AFC Sudbury trying to pass the ball through the Soham defense, but Soham managed to keep them at bay. On 11 minutes a Sudbury free kick was put just wide by Billy Holland, this spurred on the visitors who then took the lead on 15 minutes. Hayes grabbed the ball on the right and instead of crossing he half volleys the ball straight into the net, the Soham keeper with no chance saw the ball fly in off the post, a top class goal. It was all Sudbury now and just four minutes later they doubled their lead with academy player Liam Bennett side footing the ball in from a Hayes cross. 2-0.
It was Reece Harris who was next to come close for the visitors, but his touch failed at a crucial time and the on rushing home keeper managed to nick the ball from him. It was one way traffic now with Holland next to trouble the keeper and numerous passes from Sudbury Hollands effort was well held by Josh Pope. Then on the strike of half time Hayes hooked an effort just over the bar.
With the second half underway it was again the visitors who looked the more likely to score, Holland and Hayes having efforts go close. A few substitutions then followed by Soham and they did change the flow of the match, but Paul Walker in the Sudbury goal who had been quiet for 70 minutes was able to stop all efforts by Soham to get a goal. With the match drawing to an end Erkan Okay saw a red card for a late challenge on Sudbury’s Tom Dettmar, the final whistle blew and the travelling fans awarded Paul Hayes their MOTM, with the very impressive Liam Bennett a very Close Second.
AFC Sudbury are back at The Mel Group Stadium on Saturday when Dereham Town will visit.