AFC went into this Trophy tie full of confidence after a great run of results in recent weeks and at the end of the game they remained unbeaten and very unlucky not to have earned place in the First Round Proper at the first time of asking. The late goal scored by the hosts mean that both teams will be in the hat and will fight it out in the replay at The Wardale Williams Stadium.

AFC Manager David Batch had a full squad to select from with the exception of the suspended Lawrence Yiga and he was able to recall James Baker to play at the back. That however did not last beyond the thirty-first minute, and he had already lost Correy Davidson earlier on in the half.

There were a number of AFC supporters in the ground and the more vociferous ones were behind the end Sudbury were attacking. The early action was however at the other end when the home side should have gone in front. Following a quick free kick Ford was gifted and easy looking chance when only yards out from the AFC goal but fortunately for AFC he somehow fired wide of the mark.

Jack Wilkinson was using his long throws well but the large presence of both Frater and Ward in the centre of the home defence was proving an obstacle. In the tenth minute Ben Robinson got forward and got in a great shot that went across the face of the St Neots goal and just eluded Davidson at the far post as he slid in. Marcus Garnham was called into action when Roberts out-muscled Craig Pope and fed the ball inside to Davies whose shot he easily gathered.

The first of AFC’s enforced changes came on twenty minutes when Davidson went down clutching his hamstring and had to be helped off with Scott Kemp replacing him. The youngster did well ten minutes later getting in a great tackle in the midfield area. Ryan Henshaw then managed to back head a long throw from Wilkinson that was cleared away.

With ten minutes of the half left, Baker was unable to continue his hamstring injury re-occurring and there was a re-shuffle of the side again this time with Jack Guyton coming on.

Terry Rymer went on the chase from a Kris Newby cross and was nudged and was looking for a free kick on the edge of the area but nothing was forthcoming. Wilkinson then got in a fine tackle in the left back area having returned there after earlier playing further forward.

On forty minutes Garnham was in inspired form as he flew across the goal to parry a fierce shot from Ford as the home side put pressure on the visitors. He was also in action a few minutes later to punch away a shot from the same player.

Half Time; St Neots Town 0 AFC Sudbury 0

AFC Captain Sam Clarke showed great energy seven minutes in the half chasing powerfully back to challenge Roberts on the edge of the area with the ball going out for a goal kick. The home side had a chance when Dillon headed wide from a free kick.

St Neots were certainly having plenty of the ball and Garnham saved well from Davies as well as saving from Hilliard. Ford went off for the homes side Ferrari taking over, before Garnham was again called upon punching away a shot from Roberts.

Rymer took a pass from Kemp and on the right fed the former who was unable to flick the ball home. There were then a couple of substitutions, for St Neots Roberts went off and Mackey came on while Lee Flynn took Kemp’s place. This meant yet another re-shuffle for the Sudbury side.

On seventy-nine minutes there was a flair up in the corner right in front of the assistant referee, involving Newby and St Neots’ Adjei. In the end after some more ‘handbags’ the home player was red carded and Newby got a yellow.

Two minutes later and AFC went in front. Flynn took a free-kick that came back to him, he scooped the ball high and goal wards where Henshaw crossed the ball to the feet of Ollie Berquez (pictured) who fired home from close range.

The one man disadvantage did not stop the home side going in search of an equaliser and Garnham was the saviour once again denying Roberts with his legs. St Neots then went close with a header that Henshaw headed off the line, the home crowd were less enamored when Ferrari shot high over the stand.

Frater went off and Nolan came on for the hosts with three minutes left and his first action was to clatter in to Garnham as he went down for the ball. After treatment the Sudbury number one was able to continue.

Three minutes into stoppage time came the killer blow to AFC’s hope of going through at the first attempt. A high ball some thirty yards out was contested by three AFC players and a home attacker, the referee spotted a handball offence allegedly by Henshaw, who was booked. From the central area Spring stepped up and fired the free kick into the top corner with Garnham unable to get anywhere near it. Davies got booked during the celebrations.

Time ran out after five minutes of stoppage time, so the teams have it all to do again.

A good performance yet again against a team from a step higher and they will go into the replay full of confidence.

Att 431

YNOT