Great Goal Seals Victory

Well they only went and did it didn’t they!!! And what a goal it was that settled it!!!

It was a replay that most probably thought was beyond them but the depleted squad of AFC thought differently and showed great resolve and determination to fight to the very end to take victory from their higher league opponents.

Missing from the starting line-up were the two casualties from Saturday’s first game, James Baker and Correy Davidson, and they were joined on the side lines by Kris Newby. The changes meant a recall for Lawrence Yiga, Lee Flynn and Jordan Blackwell, with other youngsters, Mark Ray, Jack Guyton and Scott Kemp on the bench.

Early action saw both goalkeepers tipping balls either over the bar or round the post, Jack Wilkinson forcing Bastock the first and Marcus Garnham the second from Mackey. Garnham then produced a weak clearance that fell to Spring but the visiting midfielder failed to take the opportunity to shoot towards an open goal.

Ollie Berquez lost the ball and Ryan Henshaw was forced to take out Roberts. The Sudbury man was booked, as he had been in the previous game. Spring took the free kick from a similar position from where he scored their equaliser on Saturday, this time it went over the Sudbury bar.
Wilkinson got in great cross and Blackwell was coming in at the far post was unable to connect. Just past the half hour mark Garnham brilliantly tipped a Mackey shot onto the post with the St Neots man looking offside.

The half had been full of energy from both side but neither had broken the deadlock.

Half Time; - AFC Sudbury 0 St Neots Town 0

What an explosive start to the second period with Lawrence Yiga featuring twice. The big man was firstly booked and in the next minute scored a wonder goal. He went in hard looking for the ball and was yellow carded but then after Ben Robinson had combined with Blackwell the ball fell to him some thirty yards out. It was struck with real venom and went flying into the very top corner of the goal give the despairing Bastock no chance. The celebrations were superb with the crowd chanting “Yiga, Yiga, Yiga” as the popular midfielder ran faster than at any other time to be mobbed by his team mates.

A goal down the Southern Premier League side proceeded to have much more of the ball as the Sudbury side were pushed back time and time again, but time and time again they were stronger and better than their opponents.

On fifty-two minutes Adjei did well getting in a cross from which Roberts fired goal wards but Garnham tipped it around the post. Berquez went off and Guyton came on with sixty-two minutes gone as York put in couple of long throws that the AFC defence repelled.

The visitors were forcing the Suffolk side back at every opportunity but to a man they stood firm, with Craig Pope denying Ferrari, and Roberts firing wide. Scott Kemp took over from Blackwell to give fresh legs and he did his share of chasing to deny St Neots.

AFC’s last change saw Mark Ray take the place of Terry Rymer and he saw out the last five minutes and in the last of those it seemed that the visitors would breach the home defence. Hilliard played a ball through to Mackey who looked on course to steer the ball home when both Robinson and Garnham converged upon him and the ball went somehow wide of the goal. There was still time for St Neots Ferrari to be booked for simulation in the penalty area.

The final whistle went and it was the Step Four side that progressed through to the First Round Proper. The AFC supporters stayed to salute their team off the pitch whilst the some of the visiting fans went away mumbling.

So it’s Braintree Town away on Saturday 13th December.

Att 229

YNOT