A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Tilbury to the King’s Marsh Stadium on a windy afternoon in South Suffolk looking to build on their last home outing which saw in the New Year with a 5-0 victory over Histon.

Tilbury kicked off the game kicking from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum Seated Stand. It was the home side who would show first, Reece Harris finding Ben Hunter whose cross flashed across the Tilbury penalty area and away to safety. Tilbury should have taken the lead in only the second minute when Ogunwamide found space in the home penalty area and somehow curled his shot wide of Paul Walker’s right hand post. Two minutes on and Reece Harris went a cross in to Sean Marks whose shot went over the crossbar. Tilbury again threatened when Ogunwamide shot from the edge of the penalty area, the ball’s path halted by an excellent block by Joe Grimwood. Tilbury won the first corner of the game when Lewis O’Malley denied the visitors access to goal with a superb tackle. Worrell’s resultant corner kick saw Paul Walker rise to grab a header from under his crossbar. Just before the quarter-hour, Reece Harris sent a left foot volley screaming just over the left apex of the goal as the home side threatened. On eighteen minutes the visitors grabbed the lead when Ola Ogunwamide got enough of a head to Worrell’s right wing corner and the ball crept past a diving Paul Walker.

Ogunwamide raced forward only for Paul Walker to race off his line and save courtesy of an outstretched right leg. Tilbury continued to press hard with the wind in their faces as Ogunwamide drew a fine fingertip save from Waker with a well-placed header. The busy Ogunwamide then blazed wide with the goal at his mercy as the visitors continued to spurn golden opportunities. A Ben Hunter shot from a pass by Liam Bennett flew wide to the left of the goal. On the half-hour Sean Marks fell in the penalty area, but appeals for a penalty were optimistic and play waved on. Three minutes on and Freddie King cut inside nicely to work space for a shot which was blocked by the Tilbury defence.

Just before the break, Lewis O’Malley shot over the crossbar for the home side before Ogunwamide turned and shot in the area only for Paul Walker to pull off another superb save. The rebound was struck woefully wide when once again, it seemed easier to score.

HT 0-1

Tilbury broke early in the half, only for Tom Dettmar to deny an opportunity with a fine challenge. David Knight then sent a fine rasping drive all of twenty-five yards towards goal, but Paul Walker once again pulled off a fine flying save. Reece Harris sent a free-kick from just outside the penalty area over the crossbar as Sudbury strove for the equaliser. Moses found space in the home penalty area, but the combined defensive work of Baris Altintop and Reece Harris saw them shepherd the Tilbury number nine away from goal.

On sixty-three minutes Lewis O’Malley headed a corner from the right wing onto the post as luck continued to elude Sudbury in their visitor’s penalty area. On sixty-five minutes Billy Holland and Tom Maycock came into the action with Tom Dettmar and Ben Hunter making way. Tilbury had another golden opportunity on sixty-eight minutes when Worrell’s right wing corner fell for Mallett who screwed his shot just wide of the post from just yards out. Freddie King spun on the edge of the area to create enough space to get his shot away which the well-placed Aldridge gathered comfortably. At the other end Moses was as equally profligate as his team mates, blazing his shot high over the home crossbar.

Reece Harris sent a fine ball into Sean Marks after a strong run along the left wing and the Sudbury striker’s shot was very well saved at his near post by Aldridge making himself big. Sudbury had a seventy-fifth minute corner scrambled clear before Freddie King made way for substitute Kyle Cassell with a little over ten minutes to play. Cassell was immediately in the action having a shot blocked a minute later as the home side threw everything at their opponents. Joe Grimwood unleashed a sharp shot on eighty-five minutes and Paul Walker was on hand at the other end of the park to make another fine stop. Seven minutes of injury-time provided a measure of hope and Callum Harrison hit a shot well over the crossbar when well-placed.

An error at the back allowed Moses to break for Tilbury and his shot was superbly saved by Paul Walker only for the rebound to fall kindly for David Knight to seal the Tilbury win.

Richard Whiting