A.F.C. Sudbury Versus Witham Town The Bostik League Division One North 23/03/2019 The King’s Marsh Stadium
A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Witham Town to the King’s Marsh Stadium with the visitors in eighteenth place, one above the drop-zone, but eight points clear of nineteenth-placed Mildenhall Town. A.F.C. Sudbury were one place, but fifteen points outside the play-off positions with nine games remaining.
A.F.C Sudbury kicked off the game attacking from left to right as seen from the Brian Tatum Stand. On five minutes the first chance came for Witham when Kevin Coyle unleashed a long throw from the right touchline which Chinedu Vine touched on to Toby Aromolaran who flashed his shot wide on the turn. From a Callum Harrison free-kick two minutes later, Billy Holland rose to head narrowly wide as the home side mounted their opening threat. A minute on and the home side were settling well when Reece Harris turned and shot over the angle of post and bar. On twelve minutes Siju Odelusi made a fine run through the centre of the park, his low shot was an easy save for the well-positioned Paul Walker.
A twelfth minute corner from Callum Harrison was only partially cleared by Kevin Coyle being pressurised by Billy Holland. The loose ball fell to Harrison who unleashed a drive into the side-netting. Jack Lelliot’s foul just outside the Witham penalty area saw Callum Harrison’s set-piece played into the path of Baris Altintop by Tom Maycock whose shot flew just over the crossbar from inside the penalty area. Harrison then sent in a shot to warm the gloves of Witham ‘keeper Luca Collins before Chinedu Vine similarly sent his effort at the other end straight at Paul Walker. The attacking nature of the game was unrelenting and a minute later Ben Hunter capped a fine run with a stinging shot which flew just over the crossbar.
In the twenty-fifth minute Witham were awarded a penalty for handball in the area. Chinedu Vine stepped up and fired into the left hand corner of the net with Paul Walker gambling the other way. On twenty-eight minutes the lead was rapidly cancelled when a sweeping A.F.C. Sudbury move saw Reece Harris slotting the ball home via the right hand upright. On thirty-two minutes Sudbury wrestled the lead with a fine goal. Callum Harrison’s fine run along the right wing saw him sweep to the goal-line and cross for Tom Maycock who turned his man and slotted the ball into the net. Sudbury were now in charge of possession and on thirty-nine minutes Liam Bennett surged in from the right and sent a deflected shot wide for a corner.
HT 2-1
Witham started very strongly as the half began, a Sam Owusu cross reached substitute Louie Hunt at the near post which Paul Walker kept out with a fine and brave block. On forty-nine minutes a superb tackle by Ross Crane denied Johnny Ashman an opening and a minute later Darryl Coakley’s fine block closed down other Witham attack before Coakley again robbed the attacking visitors to deliver the ball safely upfield. On fifty-five minutes Callum Harrison’s deep left wing corner was met at the far post, very close indeed to the far post, by Billy Holland whose excellent header in a tight spot hit the apex of the goal frame and went behind for a goal kick. On sixty-four minutes A.F.C. Sudbury scored a third and effectively put the doubt about the points to bed. A rapid break by Callum Harrison saw him combine with Tom Maycock whose clever, fuss-free finish was his second strike of the afternoon. Witham refused to give in and only a fine tackle by the assured Baris Altintop denied Chinedu Vine a chance to reduce the lead. On seventy-four minutes it could have been four when Liam Bennett’s right wing cross was touched by Ross Crane to Tom Maycock whose hat-trick was denied by a stunning save by Witham’s Luca Collins. Ben Hammett then came on for the excellent Tom Dettmar and Hammett’s first touch was send a rocket towards Collin’s goal from which the Witham ‘keeper produced another marvellous save to keep out. Darryl Coakley made way for Joe Grimwood on seventy-nine minutes as Sudbury began to frustrate Witham with some accomplished and cool keep-ball.
Chances were at a premium as the home side’s game management saw them coast home to a very comfortable 3-1 home win with Tom Maycock receiving the man-of-the-match award on an afternoon when every member of the side played with great determination and skill. Sudbury travel to Dereham Town next Saturday, their hosts seemingly now safe from the drop after a Friday evening victory over Bury Town.
Richard Whiting