Much as i'd like to wax lyrical about the first half of this wind effected clash.. i simply can't. I wasn't there.. i was driving back from a Valentines Day / Night date down in Oxfordshire. Google maps was showing me that my ETA in Sudbury was 4.02pm, if that didn't change then i stood a chance of catching the second half. A petrol stop added a couple of minutes on but considering the weather the traffic was running smoothly and as the journey continued i was able to cut my eta down minute by minute. When i finally arrived at the ground following a 2 and a half hour drive it was to see both teams leaving the pitch at half time. Good going. A glance up at the scoreboard.. ahhh 2-1 down. A visit to the clubhouse later and I was fully briefed on a first half that was fairly even but where we failed to work the keeper despite the wind being beneficial to this end. When i say failed to work the keeper of course it was pointed out to me that eventually when we did Billy Hollands 30 yard effort was tipped over superbly ( opinions varied on the distance so i'm going 30 yards.. some had it as high as 40 yards but alcohol might have been a factor there ) from the resultant corner Holland had apparently headed home just before halftime to reduce a self inflicted 2 goal deficit. A couple of defensive errors from the big man i heard... well i'm more than prepared to give the big man the benefit of the doubt as it was a swirling windy day and as he is 8ft something tall i can only imagine the impact of the conditions at that rarified altitude.
Ok so onto the second half.. one that i was fully invested in at last.
The game was fairly even and definitely open. The wind had an effect, blowing towards Walker's goal but we kept the ball down and worked it. Within about 10 minutes the scores were level. Baris making contact with a Harrison corner from the right to head home at the near post. Have it! I like to think that our goals had came as the lads were lifted by my presence back in Sudbury. Holland's strike would have come as i was making my way down the hill towards the ground and now Baris pounced as I had taken my place behind the goal (I think that is enough evidence to prove any theory ) It certainly didn't look like two teams separated by over half a league table. We were giving as well as we got. Unfortunately we were about to be got again and a fierce drive across goal by a marauding Aveley forward flared past Walker to restore their lead.
Heads did not drop, Baris was marauding forward from the left and driving through the middle in a way i'd rarely seen. Hunter had a fine shot palmed away. We were knocking at the door. Chances came and went at both ends. With 7 minutes to go we saw another F King goal! Bursting through to the edge of the box, Freddie fired to the left of the keeper who got both hands to the ball but it was a dipping shot, moving all over the place and the ball spun up of the keeper and into the net. Oh how we celebrated.
90 minutes on the clock, a point against Aveley.. yeah i'd take that, especially as we were 2 down. Then Joe Grimwood sent an Aveley forward tumbling and the referee pointed directly to the spot. So close yet so far. Walker wasn't about to let the team effort go to waste however and his dive down low to his left say the penalty saved along with the point. Of all the days not to have my GoPro's set up! Good grief!
Onwards we go to Great Wakering on Tuesday night..weather gods willing of course.
Good fighting Sudbury, well played to get back into a game that had appeared beyond us for a while. A point we'd not have won earlier on this season. Bravo.... just