Sudbury started well with Sean Marks rising high to head over
the crossbar from a free-kick from Half-way. The wind was against
the home side in the first half and on nine minutes Baris Altintop displayed
great composure to take down a high clearance when under severe pressure
from the Harrow Borough forwards. On eleven minutes Jordan Ireland
turned on the ball and fired a shot towards goal which the home defence
smuggled behind for a corner. A minute on and Sudbury’s Liam Bennett’s
fine run and cross was just too far ahead of Sean Marks rushing in and
throwing himself towards the goal.

On thirteen minutes Excellence Muhemba struck a fine shot which
cannoned off the right hand upright for Borough. Sudbury’s charmed life
resurfaced two minutes later when Ant O’Connor raced clear to send a chip
through the six yard area and wide of goal. The strong wind saw Adam Pepera
launch a long clearance towards the home penalty area, Paul Walker rushing
from his line to head clear while crashing into the on-rushing Excellence
Muhemba. On thirty-four minutes Joe Whight struck a free-kick straight at
Halted Al-Droubi and four minutes on Chinua Moore hit a speculative drive
straight at Paul Walker. Michael Bryan sent a late corner into the home penalty
area, but the half ended goal-less.

H-T 0-0

Lewis O’Malley was replaced as the half started by Callum Harrison.

With the wind at their backs Sudbury started the half with great purpose
and took the lead just two minutes in. The ball cane into the Harrow Borough
penalty area, bobbled loose and Billy Holland was on hand to poke the ball
home. The chances were at a premium for both sides, Sudbury highly industrious
In closing their opponents down at every opportunity. On fifty-seven minutes Ant
O’Connor headed wide from a rare raid on the home goal. The visitors came closer to
an equaliser when four minutes later a Michael Bryan free-kick was headed against
the post by George Moore.

Sudbury responded with Rhys Harris shooting from just outside the penalty area
and returning that blocked effort as a cross which Sean Marks almost
reached at the far post. Marks broke free on sixty-six minutes, but his header lacked
the strength to go over the head of Halfed Al-Droubi. Sean Marks got his goal
just two minutes later however, when his header flashed past Al-Droubi to double
the home side’s lead. On seventy-two minutes Billy Holland headed against the post,
but the flag was fluttering for offside so any goal would not have counted.

Sudbury continued to defend with great determination. On eighty-four minutes
Tom Maycock hit a shot over the crossbar from a corner before his run on the left
saw him cross to Marks who laid the ball into the path of Callum Harrison whose
shot was saved low to his right by Al-Droubi. On eighty-six minutes Freddie King
came on to replace Sean Marks. On ninety minutes Maycock crossed just ahead
of the lively Freddie King. Sudbury held on with some comfort to record a superb
victory, once again over higher league opposition. Every player worked
extremely hard and in Joe Whight they had a captain’s performance that really
laid down the marker for the new coaching era at the King’s Marsh

Richard Whiting