AFC Earn A Replay

This cup tie between Ryman League rivals will be replayed on Tuesday after Saturday’s game ended all square when two first half goals were shared.

Sudbury boss Davis Batch was forced to make changes from the previous game. Skipper Sam Clarke was sidelined with an arm in plaster as a result of an injury received in the Needham game and central defender Lawrence Yiga was unavailable. Lee Flynn returned to defence and Ayrton Coley also started. Michael Shinn took over the captain’s armband.

Redbridge, who played better than their lowly league position suggests, got off to a perfect start taking the lead after two minutes when a quick counter attack ended when a cross field ball found Joe Gent who out-paced his marker to finish clinically with an angled shot.

The home side squandered another good chance before Sudbury levelled nine minutes later courtesy of an own goal. Sudbury attacked down their right flank and won a free kick near the corner flag. Lee Flynn’s in-swinging kick, which appeared to be goal bound, was headed into his own net by home defender Aj Adelekan who wrong-footed his keeper.

Defences went on to dominate the half although Redbridge failed to hit the target from two good openings and just before the break Ayrton Coley broke for Sudbury but Vinny Murphy got back to make last ditch tackle. Just before the break the hard working James Baker became the only AFC to be yellow carded for a strong challenge. It seemed a harsh decision as he definitely won the ball and seemed no worse than other challenges that occurred without punishment.

Half time: Redbridge 1 AFC Sudbury 1

Early in the second half Redbridge came close with an overhead kick that rebounded off the crossbar and although the ball ended in the net the effort was ruled out for off side.Joe Gent was guilty of failing to hit the target from another quick Redbridge counter attack before Sudbury’s James Baker had a fierce shot parried away.

Keeper Alex Archer, playing his 101st consecutive game for AFC, made a great block from another Redbridge counter attack and the loose ball was scrambled away.

After making second half changes Sudbury finished the game strongly but were unable to pierce a determined home defence thereby setting up a replay at the Wardale Williams Stadium on Tuesday (7.45).

The winners of that match will host Essex Senior League side FC Romania in the next round on Saturday 13 September. FC Romania top their league table with maximum points from four games. They booked their place in the next round with a 2-1 home win against Heybridge Swifts of the Ryman League.

Attendance: 61

PAT ARBON