A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Aveley to the King’s Marsh on a cold January afternoon in South Suffolk. Aveley lie in fifth place going into this game, just one place above A.F.C. Sudbury who would be looking to stretch their unbeaten run to five games.

Sudbury kicked off the game attacking from right to left as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. On four minutes Tyler French did well to dispossess the on-rushing Andrew Freeman as the visitors looked to get away to the perfect start. After a relatively scrappy opening, Firmin Ngandu almost broke free on goal, but Liam Bennett was on hand with a fine stopping tackle to deny the opening. On the quarter-hour, Thomas Richardson whipped the ball across the face of the home goal and wide of the far post for Aveley as the visitors pressed their hosts hard.

On seventeen minutes Callum Harrison found Paul Hayes with a fine ball, but the Sudbury number nine saw his shot easily gathered by David Hughes in the Aveley goal. On twenty minutes Liam Bennet’s fine run saw him find Tom Dettmar whose shot was also straight at the Aveley ‘keeper. Baris Altintop then sent a superb cross-field ball into Liam Bennett whose cross into the box was cleared by the Aveley defence. Ben Hunter’s tweety-second minute corner fell for Altintop whose fierce drive was blocked by the Aveley defence and again the Sudbury attack came to nothing. A sublime one-two between Tom Dettmar and Liam Bennett saw the latter shooting wide as the home side continued to press their visitors hard.

On twenty-nine minutes Aveley were awarded a penalty after Darryl Coakley’s challenge was adjudged to have brought down Thomas Richardson in the penalty area. Alexander Akrofi stepped up and his low drive was brilliantly saved by Paul Walker leaping to his right. The ball was hacked clear from the rebound and from Ngandu’s subsequent corner, Altintop headed the ball firmly away from danger. On thirty-three minutes Sam Mvemba sent a fine cross into the home penalty area, but Amir Berkane headed well over the crossbar when excellently placed. A few seconds later and Aveley had the lead. A mistake at the back cost the home side dear as Thomas Richardson seized the ball and stood forward to stroke the ball past Paul Walker.

On forty minutes a fine block by Joe Whight denied Alexander Akrofi before Jake Pity swerved a shot high and wide of the home goal. Richardson almost claimed a brace before half-time when his header from Mvemba’s cross went wide of the goal as the visitors need the half confidently.

HT 0-1

Aveley created an early second-half chance when Akrofi’s shot was well saved by Paul Walker at the near post. Aveley, however, doubled their advantage on fifty-four minutes. A fine run through the heart of the home defence saw Andrew Freeman look upon and drill a fine shot into the net past Paul Walker. Sudbury responded with Ben Hunter finding Callum Harrison, but once again the shot was straight at David Hughes in the Aveley goal.

The busy Thomas Richardson then crossed at pace and Ngandu’s stretch saw him guide the ball past the A.F.C Sudbury goal. The equally busy and classy Paul Hayes then fizzed a shot just wide of the Aveley goal as the home side tried desperately to claw their way back into the tie. On sixty-six minutes Joe Grimwood was brought on for Darryl Coakley, Mekhi McKenzie for Paul Hayes and Thomas Monk for Callum Harrison. With fourteen minutes remaining, Firmin Ngandu sent a free-kick around the Sudbury wall, but as is always the case, Paul Walker’s anticipation and placement was perfect and the save straightforward. The final ten minutes saw Aveley see out the game with some organised game-management which saw Sudbury fall to the first defeat since the beginning of December.

It is to league leaders Bowers And Pitsea that A.F.C. Sudbury next travel. On paper a tough encounter, but this youthful squad will learn from this setback and emerge the stronger for it, so a trip to the team currently at the summit of the Bostik League North Division should hold no fears for Mark Morsley’s men.