AFC In Dramatic Victory

A.F.C. Sudbury welcomed Barton Rovers to the Wardale Williams Stadium following Saturday’s 1-1 draw knowing that an organised and attacking side would stand between them and progress in the F.A. Trophy. Few could have foreseen the classic match that would eventually unfold on a night few who witnessed it are likely to forget in a hurry.

Barton Rovers came out of the traps with some purpose as they attacked left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. Ollie Bowles saved from Jason Blackett’s early effort and from the resultant corner delivered by Jordan Dias, Connor Vincent crashed his header off the post with no-one on hand to poke the ball home.

On six minutes, Jason Blackett was at full-stretch as a left wing corner flashed across the six-yard line, but failed to get his head to the ball. Sudbury were finding it difficult to repel the early Barton pressure, but a free-kick mid-way into the visitor’s half saw Sam Bantick find James Baker on the right whose header towards the onrushing Luke Callander was grabbed by Kyle Forster in the away goal.

Sam Bantick then mounted a fine left wing run from which he won a corner which was cleared with some ease by the Barton defence. Luke Callander swung a great pass into the path of Liam Wales which was matched in its execution by the stopping tackle which denied the latter progress towards goal.

Both sides traded attacks with respective goal-keepers able to mop up the speculative efforts that came their way. For Sudbury a Ross bailey shot was saved by Forster in the centre of the goal whilst Ollie Bowles could watch Jordan Davis’ eleventh minute effort pass well wide of his left hand upright. Robbie Martin pulled another save from Forster two minutes later with a shot straight into his midriff.

Rovers were always looking to break at pace with their long-range passing often looking likely to open up the home defence. Ben Robinson rose on half way to offer a brave header as one such move looked to set Vincent clear before Sam Bantick again showed his skill and pace along the left as he worked space for a cross which Forster was grateful to see cleared by his trailing leg.

On twenty-four minutes Barton Rovers turned their possession domination into a lead. A long ball through the centre of the park fell to Connor Vincent who finished past Ollie Bowles with the ball going in off the foot of the right hand post. Sudbury responded to this set-back with Luke Callander switching the ball from left to right wing into the path of Ben Robinson. Robinson’s crashed drive looked likely to trouble Forster, but a deflection saw the ball fall frustratingly to safety.

Three minutes later Craig Parker almost found Liam Wales with a clearance, but Forster rushed from his line to clear. Elliot Bailey almost capitalised on a poor clearance from goal by Ollie Bowles, but was stopped in his tracks by a stunning tackle by James Baker. On the half-hour Barton strung together an attack in which their possession was built from a series of neat passes. As the ball was slid into the penalty area, Sam Clarke was able to execute a desperate clearance as again the home side hung on.

At the other end Sam Bantick went on another glorious run where his shot was pushed wide of the goal at the expense of a left wing corner. From this corner there was a foul in the penalty-area the result of which was the award of a home penalty and the removal of the Barton Rovers Manager from dug-out to stand. After a long, long delay, Craig Parker’s spot kick was saved.

The visitors continued to press their hosts and only another finely-timed tackle by James Baker denied Blackett a route in on goal. He followed this up with another decisive tackle on Jordan Davis before Ryan Henshaw brought a promising Rovers attack to a partial end with a necessary foul on the edge of the penalty area. From the set-piece Vincent fired over the home crossbar. There was time for Jordan Davis to be denied by a fine Ollie Bowles save and for Craig Parker to send a shot just wide of the visitor’s goal following more fine left-wing work by Sam Bantick.

Half-Time: AFC Sudbury 0 Barton Rovers 1

The Bedfordshire side offered little let-up as they began the second half with dominance, however for AFC Luke Callander found Craig Parker on the right of the visitor’s penalty area, but his shot flashed into the side-netting. The tricky Connor Vincent was halted by Ben Robinson’s well-timed tackle at the expense of a right wing corner which the home side headed clear.

With just three minutes of the half completed, Sam Clarke had to make way for Ollie Berquez. Sudbury then forged a half-chance as Ben Robinson released Liam Wales who rounded Forster who had rushed from his goal. Wales crossed, but his pass was cut out and the promising move came to nothing.

On fifty-five minutes Barton doubled their advantage. From a break on the right the home defence was pulled square and Jason Blackett had the easiest of tasks to head home the cross at the far post. Dias then had a deflected shot saved low down to his right by Ollie Bowles with a degree of ease before Luke Callander saw his attempted lob easily gathered by Forster.

If Sudbury were to get a foothold in the game then they could not have asked for a better chance than that which now came along. Sam Bantick executed another scintillating left wing run and his whipped cross fell literally onto the feet of Liam Wales whose first time shot unluckily cannoned off the crossbar and away to safety. His wait, however, was soon over. The arrears were halved when in the sixty-first minute Luke Callander beat the offside-trap and found Liam Wales who skilfully turned the ball past Forster. It was almost a quick levelling of the tie when Sam Bantick’s latest quality run saw him strike the crossbar and the ball again fail to fall to a home player.

The visitors restored their two goal advantage on sixty-seven minutes. Jordan Davis twisted and turned his way out of trouble to fire low past Ollie Bowles. Another Luke Callander attempted chip failed to beat Forster on seventy-five minutes before Sudbury threw on Stefano Mallardo and James Axcell with Ross Bailey and Robbie Martin making way.

With nine minutes of time remaining A.F.C Sudbury were handed a lifeline. Ben Robinson on the right sprinted after a ball that seemed to be headed out for a goal-kick. Not only did he reach the ball, but planted his cross onto the head of Luke Callander who finished with precision past Forster.

Liam Wales was booked in the melee to retrieve the ball for the restart as Sudbury looked to capitalise on the remaining time to force a goal to take the game into extra-time. Ryan Henshaw sent a cross too deep across the Barton penalty area before Forster rushed from his line to repel the advancing Liam Wales.

In added-on time a promising exchange of passes between Sam Bantick and Ryan Henshaw saw the latter caught offside as the home side threw everything into attack. In the third minute Sudbury sensationally levelled the tie. Ollie Berquez found Sam Bantick who managed to win a corner form the right. He delivered this superbly for Ryan Henshaw who headed home to the delight of the home support

Eight minutes into stoppage-time Sam Bantick’s clever run saw him shoot with the outside of his boot and Forster drop to save brilliantly at his near-post at the expense of a corner from the right. Bantick again delivered with complete precision for Stefano Mallardo (pictured) to rise and head his first A.F.C. Sudbury goal and send the players and supporters into delirium.

Barton restarted the tie but the final whistle went and it had been a great comeback by AFC.

Att 133

Richard Whiting