Histon vs AFC Sudbury 26-08-19

Bank Holiday Monday saw Sudbury make the trip out past Cambridge to face once non league giants Histon. On another scorching day this was always going to be a big ask for the lads. Paul Walker was unavailable after getting clattered again against Felixstowe 2 days beforehand and Adam Bailey-Dennis was missing through a slight niggle although most definitely present at the game.. you can't miss ABD! Deputising for Bailey - Dennis was the man with the guns.. Joe Grimwood and stepping in for his debut as our number 1 was Sam Wright.
We expected Histon to throw the kitchen sink at us.. instead it was the home side on the receiving end of our finest 90 minutes of the season so far.
We kept things simple, balls to feet, pass and move, give and go, driving into space when it appears and when it doesn't we were more patient. We looked solid from the off and Histon really didn't settle at all. We began to probe at the Histon back line with balls coming in from both Benno and Harris. First Marks and then King both went close to getting onto the end of a low Harris ball across the box. Benno started finding space down the right and the signs were all there that we could take something from the game. Just after the quarter hour mark Grimwood drove forward from the back, released Dettmar pulling out to the left. His cross into the box found Sean Marks and a well placed header back across goal gave Peachey in the Histon goal no chance. You expected a response from Histon but it didn't materialise.. or at least we didn't let it materialise. On 36 minutes a defensive lapse on the edge of the box saw Freddy King get the better of his marker and leave him on on one with Peachey in Histon goal. King showed composure beyond his years by drawing the keeper and then rounding him with ease before stroking the ball into the gaping net. Histon were rocked back and other than a few crosses into the box which Sam Wright dealt with calmly, the half was seen out without drama.
The second half saw Joe Wight replaced by youngster Lewis O'Malley for his debut. I think at this point our back 3 and keeper combined had an average age of 17. Quite remarkable really. 3 minutes into the second period Histon did hit back and a fine curling effort by Gould flew beyond Wright and curled into the top corner of the net. Game on! But rather than retreat, Sudbury continued to press and dominate and half chances came and went. Holland and Hunter both going close to restoring the 2 goal cushion. Histon did fashion a chance with about 25 minutes to go but a good headed opportunity came and went for them and that was as good as the day was going to get for Histon. Marks inches away from converting a Benno cross before Maycock came on to replace Dettmar and a change of formation ensued, moving from a 352 to more of a 451 system. With 10 minutes to go Freddie King rampaged forward and with the defence backing away he smashed home his 2nd goal of the game from the edge of the box leaving Peachey stranded and surely securing all 3 points and indeed our first points of the season. On 82 minutes King turned provider, bursting into the box down the right and clipping over a cute ball for Marks to volley home for his 3rd goal in 2 games. There was still time for Harris to smash a long range piledriver just over the bar before the referee brought proceedings to a close. Job done lads, job very impressively done.
Attendance 267 - Sudbury Man of the Match - Reece Harris