A First Round League Cup tie against near neighbours Bury Town in the competition that AFC reached the Final in last season, ended with the home side going through in a tight game.

AFC Manager David Batch gave a first start to young Josh Kerridge and included another teenager Jordan Blackwell in the starting line-up. Missing was the suspended Kris Newby and the injured Terry Rymer.

The home side could have been a goal up in the first thirty seconds as straight from the kick-off Correy Davidson tore down the left wing and crossed the ball into the box, unfortunately Blackwell at the far post shot wide.

The game settled down with the visitors from the Ryman Premier Division showing more composure on the ball and putting pressure on the Sudbury side. Weavers crossed from the left and Wales headed over for Bury before they went in front.

With Garrett receiving the ball on the left side and making his way into the penalty area, Ryan Henshaw was on his heels and the Bury man went to and a spot kick awarded. Garrett took the kick and sent Archer the wrong way.

AFC countered after this with a breakaway but it came to nothing but it did leave Wales on the floor clutching his hamstring and he went off to be replaced by Bailey. The substitute was soon firing the ball wide of the AFC goal after a good ball from Benjamin, who then also shot wide with Bury on top of proceedings.

Davidson showed his great skill with speed and a dribble through the visitors defence but his final effort was well wide of the target. AFC’s efforts were summed up on the stroke of half-time when Ryan Maxwell shot woefully wide of the target.

Half-time; AFC Sudbury 0 Bury Town 1

A master plan was seeming hatched during the break with AFC’ s formation showing drastic changes. James Baker who had been playing up front, went to play on the left side of a back three with the two AFC full backs, Ben Robinson and Jack Wilkinson getting much further forward.

It was a system that certainly worked, with the visitors penned much more in there half and AFC having far more of the ball. Davidson again used his pace and saw Garnham in the Bury goal saving well.

The pressure paid off as AFC were awarded a penalty when Whight handled a downward Blackwell header in the box. Baker stepped up to convert the penalty to put the scores level.

Maxwell went off and Sam Clarke (pictured) making his 251st appearance for AFC came on, as Kerridge also left the fray and Lawrence Yiga took over. Robinson was getting forward well down the right hand side and earned a corner, before another foray down the right saw Blackwell fouled and a free-kick awarded. Wilkinson took the kick and fit found the head of Clarke and the ball struck the far post and went over the line despite Garnham attempt to scoop it out. There was slight confusion as to whether the goal had been given, it had and AFC were in front.

Archer had to be alive as Bury’s’ Nathan Clarke headed a cross looking for an equaliser, the Sudbury goalkeeper was alive to the situation. He then did well to punch away a corner that fell to Willbye but he shot well over the Sudbury bar.

Davidson, still lively had a shot saved and Yiga did well denying Benjamin with a great tackle as AFC were digging in. Weavers for Bury shot over before AFC made their final change, Ayton Coley for Blackwell.

Bury attacked and Benjamin forced Archer to get down to save a goalbound shot. Surprisingly the only booking of the game came late on when Garrett caught Robinson late. There had been a number of earlier incidents when normally a yellow card would have surely have been issued.

Coley was though on the Bury goal and with the chance to seal the game, fiercely shot and Garnham produced a great save to deny the AFC front man.

Time ran out and AFC had progressed to the next round.

Att 139

YNOT