Defeat to leaders Bowers & Pitsea

AFC Sudbury travelled into Essex to visit the league leaders Bowers & Pitsea, after a great first half performance they went down in the second half losing 3-0, report by Darren Theobald.

With Billy Holland still suspended AFC Sudbury went with an unchanged XI, Phil Kelly returned and was on the bench. AFC Sudbury manager Mark Morskey was seeing out his dugout ban today and watched from the stands with the 124 others in attendance as Bowers we fast out the traps, route one football seemed to be their plan today, with some tall target men to aim for. Sudbury did well to hold out as the pressure was relentless for the first 15 minutes, but when they did get the ball and pass their way out they did well, a flowing move down the right resulted in a great opportunity for Callum Harrison, but the final shot was poor and off target, something that was Sudbury’s undoing today. Another opportunity for a corner was headed over by Baris Altintop. Sudbury then started to build with confidence and passed the ball a lot better.

The first half ended 0-0, Sudbury would have been the happier of the two teams as Bowers did have the best opportunities to take the lead. The second half however, was a different half. The home side took the lead on 52 minutes from a corner which was headed home by Martyn Stokes. Then, bizarrely, the Bowers keeper tried to throw the ball out, but threw it behind him and picked it up again resulting in an indirect free kick to Sudbury, they initially took it quickly and Harrison slotted home, however the Referee wanted it taken again, but the second attempt was not as successful hitting the defence and being cleared.

Sudbury did have chances to equalise, Daryl Cocakley blasted wide, Harrison’s went over and second half sub, Phil Kelly, also guilty of not being on target. But it was Bowers who did take their chances and against the run of play went 2-0 up on 77 minutes. In injury time they added a third, a score very flattening to the hosts as Sudbury were in the match more than the score shows.

Next for AFC Sudbury is a home friendly against Harwich and Parkeston on Tuesday, free entry for all. 8pm KO.

AFC Sudbury Reserves went down 2-1 at home to Swaffham Town, after falling two behind they played some great battling football and Isaac Skubich scored to give them hope, but Swaffham helps out to end the reserves great recent run.