Through To Semi-Finals

AFC went through to the Semi-Finals with a first half performance that virtually finished the game at half-time, although the visitors did pull a goal back late on.

There was drama earlier in the day with the goalkeeping position and then before the kick-off with players being caught up in traffic problems.

With regular goalkeeper Marcus Garnham cup-tied the idea was to bring in the Reserves/U21’s keeper Louis Johnson. He had pulled out of their previous game with a back problem to try and be fit for this game, but there was a reoccurrence earlier in the day, with young Curtis Child just not old enough to play in senior football it meant a real predicament for the club. It was solved with help from Bury Town and a lot of paperwork by AFC Secretary David Webb. Alex Archer who is on loan at Bury was recalled from it for the day and duly took his place between the posts.

Craig Pope, Lee Flynn and Ayrton Coley were trying to get to The Wardale Williams Stadium from the London area and were held up due to traffic accidents and were never going to make the kick off time. The teams having gone in there were changes made to the starting line-up with Lawrence Yiga and Ben Robinson starting the game when otherwise they wouldn’t have. Tyler Kemp after returning from his loan spell started on the right of midfield with Jack Wilkinson on the left and with aback three of Robinson, Henshaw and Yiga.

Mildenhall players were also delayed due to an accident and the kick off was subsequently delayed until 8.00pm.
Early action saw Terry Rymer fire wide from a Correy Davidson through ball before AFC took the lead in the ninth minute. Scott Kemp, (pictured) who was lively all night, got in a good cross from the right and after Ollie Berquez got something on the ball Davidson blasted the ball home.

Mildenhall’s Paterson took a cross from the right and shot over the bar and then Enaro crossed and struck the bar. Wilkinson for AFC fed Rymer and Parkinson got in good tackle but stayed down and had to receive treatment Tyler Kemp was guilty of firing high over the bar after Rymer crossed to him.

AFC’s second goal came on the half hour mark Scott Kemp crossing from the right and the ball being headed in to his own net by Harvey. A minute AFC were three up, another Scott Kemp cross found Davidson who again fired home.

In the final minute of the half what could have been a glorious hat trick for Davidson was denied by the junction of crossbar and post after he had sprinted away from the Mildenhall defence and unleashed a fierce shot.

Half time; AFC Sudbury 3 Mildenhall Town 0
With a three goal lead AFC Manager David Batch decided on two changes at the start of the half with Flynn taking over from Wilkinson and Jordan Blackwell on for Davidson. Blackwell was soon involved going down in the penalty area but his appeals were waved away.

Enaro went off and McCabe came on before a long range shot from Burroughs was saved comfortably by Archer who had had little to do.

Burroughs left the fray and Nurse took over before Steed had a shot that was tipped over by Archer for a corner.

AFC made their final change on sixty-four minutes Mark Ray coming on up front with Terry Rymer taking a rest. Three minutes later there was some delightful passing football from AFC with a sweeping move that ended with a corner on the right.

Scott Kemp was again involved with a cross after good passing with his brother down the right hand side of AFC’s attack. Mildenhall made their last substitution with Judge going off and Minns coming on. Henshaw then saw a header go over the visitor’s bar and Nurse booked for showing some dissent over a free kick given against his side.

It was Nurse who gave his side a consolation goal in the eighty-seventh minutes taking a free-kick on the left of the penalty area and firing directly home with ball going in off the far post.

The final whistle went and AFC had made it to the Semi-Finals, somewhere they have not been for a number of seasons in this competition.

Att 101

YNOT