A.F.C. Sudbury started the game strongly and a third minute corner from Reece Harris fell to Baris Altintop whose shot was blocked on the Romford goal-line. Two minutes on and Liam Bennett’s strong run saw him cut inside to send a drive well over the visitor’s crossbar. Romford settled and Jimmy Cox found space to send his shot wide of Paul Walker’s right hand post. On eight minutes A.F.C. Sudbury wrestled the lead. A strong run by Ben Hunter saw him break through the heart of the Romford defence and finish cooly past Harry Aldridge.

Romford began to settle and pose problems for the three man Sudbury back line. On thirteen minutes Phillip Brown-Bampoe went on a mazy run which saw him find Nathanael Joseph whose shot went wide when it seemed a certain goal. Two minutes on and Reece Harris sent a free-kick from wide on the left wing into Billy Holland who controlled before drilling the ball over the crossbar. At the other end Adeniyi Gbolahan met a cross with a shot which Paul Walker blocked superbly, although the flag had been raised for offside. On twenty one minutes Joe Whight’s free kick for the home side flashed over the crossbar before Romford drew level. Paul Walker saved from Jonathon Nzengo, but the Romford striker was on hand to touch home. A minute later and Sudbury were trailing when Jimmy Cox was found in the penalty area and had the easiest of tasks in finding the net.

On thirty-two minutes Reece Harris crossed for Liam Bennett, but he headed straight at Harry Aldridge. Sudbury had a great chance on thirty-two minutes when Reece Harris delivered a right wing corner to the far post for Joe Grimwood who shot over the crossbar from close range. On thirty-five minutes Reece Harris delivered a fine free-kick into Billy Holland who headed wide. The equaliser did come however on thirty-six minutes when a rather poor clearance was snapped up by Liam Bennett who drilled a fabulous shot into the roof of the net from just outside the Romford penalty area.

On forty-one minutes Freddie King headed a Joe Whight free-kick wide of Aldridge’s goal before a slick move by Nzengo saw Paul Walker sharp off his line to gather and snuff out the danger.

HT 2-2

Liam Bennet found Ben Hunter whose shot was easy for a well-place Aldridge in the Romford goal. Aldridge had to work a little harder when Tom Dettmar found Liam Bennett whose shot was parried by the boot of the Romford ‘keeper. Romford again took the lead on fifty-three minutes when Harry Aldridge delivered a long kick which Jonathon Nzengo brought down with aplomb and finished with equal coolness past Paul Walker. Sudbury tried to respond with an urgently played free-kick releasing Liam Bennett, but his shot was screwed wide. Romford were dangerous on the break. On sixty-seven minutes Phillip Brown-Bampoe sent substitute Reece Tranter through on goal, but his effort also flew wide.

With twenty minutes left Freddie King’s strong run saw him find Sean Marks whose shot was deflected for a corner. From the half-cleared set-piece Joe Whight crossed for Joe Grimwood to head against the right-hand upright. On seventy-two minutes Tom Maycock came on to replace Joe Grimwood and a minute later Sudbury were level once again. Maycock it was who delivered an excellent cross into Billy Holland who made no mistake from close range. Holland received another cross from Maycock on seventy-seven minutes, but the ball fell awkwardly and the chance disappeared. A lucky escape for Sudbury came with eight minutes on the clock. The ball catapulted through the penalty area, before the assured Paul Walker took possession to snuff out the danger.

With five minutes remaining Sam Girling came on to make his first team debut for Sudbury. Replacing Ben Hunter who had been suffering from cramp. Sudbury were not to be denied another three points however. Liam Bennett won possession and fed the ball to Tom Maycock who beat Harry Aldridge with a sublime lob.

By Richard Whiting