A solitary goal, midway through the first half was enough for Coggeshall Town to claim all three points in this closely contested encounter at the MEL Group Stadium. Sudbury went into the match with an unchanged starting eleven from that which had won so convincingly at Maldon & Tiptree 7 days previous. The match also saw Captain Joe Whight make his 50th appearance in a Sudbury shirt.
Sudbury started brightly with Kelly seeing his header gathered by Sambridge in the Coggeshall goal following a pinpoint cross by Darryl Coakley. The next chance fell to Harrison whose first time effort after being set up by Blackwell was well saved low to his left by Sambridge.
AFC continued to make the early running and an off target effort by Harris found the head of Holland who diverted it just over the visitors crossbar. Coggeshall's first real effort came on 16 minutes when Wall got a shot away that was blocked by French but it was still the home side making most of the running with Sambridge adjusting well to gather a shot by Coakley that took a wicked deflection.
Kelly then had a shot for Sudbury which Sambridge had to scramble to his right to clear but for all their pressure it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play on 25 minutes when Pollard rose unchallenged to power a corner from Sam Bantick into the net.
The goal spurred Coggeshall into action and Allen let loose a drive that flew inches wide as the match became much more even. Harrison shot wide and Blackwell over for AFC as the home side continued to create chances while Cocklin fired over for Coggeshall.
Coggeshall were now beginning to gain the upper hand and Bantick breezed past Coakley to fire across the face of goal before Bantick again saw a shot blocked and then fired over with another effort.
HT: AFC Sudbury 0 Coggeshall Town 1
Chances were at a premium in the second period and it was not until the 64th minute that AFC went close again when Holland saw his effort deflected for a corner while soon after Wall gets in a shot for Coggeshall that is straight at Walker.
A delightful cross by Peter for Coggeshall on 72 minutes is met by the head of substitute Hubble who sees his header blocked for a corner. Then Hubble again wins back possession for the visitors before curling an effort just wide. Coggeshall were now well on top and Wall sends in a fierce drive that Walker does well to block.
Coggeshall then managed out the remained of the match to take all three points back to Essex.