AFC went into this League Cup tie with three key players missing in Marcus Garnham, Adam Tann and James Baker. Manager Jamie Godbold gave a first team debut to new signing Erkan Okay in midfield.
On a very mild night, there was never any danger of the pitch being frozen, but there were some concerns when the mist began to creep in an hour before the start, but it quickly lifted.
The home side also had a strange look about it with players injured or cup-tied, It was game attracted only a minimum of interest on the terraces.
Hornchurch kicked towards the windmill end of the ground, and twice in the opening five minutes Thompson opened up the right side, his first cross skimming the far post, and his second deflecting off Ryan Henshaw for a corner.
With ten minutes gone Cohen picked out Wall, and Callum Robinson in the Sudbury goal was forced to make a good save. The hosts continued to have the better of the territorial play and Cohen almost broke through on the left but was tackled before he could shoot.
Wall went close with a first time volley, and Sudbury, who until then had only managed one attack, winning a corner which came to nothing, had a scoring opportunity with a Luke Callander free kick, but Mott was ideally positioned to make the save.
Cohen fired wide from a Wall pass, whilst another Thompson run ended with a good interception by Aidan Austin at the expense of a corner.
Half Time;- AFC Hornchurch 0 AFC Sudbury 0
Ross Wall went close a minute after the break but the visitors began to force the pace, and, controlling the midfield with Okay showing up well, they had more of the attacking play. Mott saved well from Callander, and another long-range shot curled against a post.
At the other end Cooper headed wide from an Osman corner, while ex-AFC Sudbury man Ayrton Coley hit a shot wide, and then a well-flighted Osman free kick drifted wide of the near post.
Lee went close with a header and then took on a defensive role to deny Sudbury an opening, as play swung from end to end. AFC made a change with Sam Bantick replacing Jordan Blackwell and Hussain for Hornchurch came on for Osman.
McKenzie who had replaced Coley, sent a long ball out to Thompson on the right wing, and he made one of his characteristic runs down the wing, before crossing into the middle, where McKenzie directed his header too close to goalkeeper Robinson. A few minutes later and there was a double change for Sudbury as Callander and Sam Clarke went off and Craig Parker and Dylan Williams taking over.
There was a lengthy stoppage following an incident on the River Side of the ground, which ended with Thompson being booked, and play had scarcely restarted when AFC's Williams was shown a yellow card for an off-the-ball incident involving Bentley.
Jamie Hurst replaced Thompson, and then Chouman sent a free kick over the wall but wide of the goal as Hornchurch stepped up the pace. Cooper was shown a yellow card, and a minute later Hornchurch took the lead with what proved to be the only goal of the match. Wall moved onto a long pass from the right, and weaved his way past a defender before gliding the ball into the net.
This proved to be the final scoring chance, as Sudbury were unable to set up any attacking moves, and in the final minute the referee dealt with another altercation, before showing a yellow card to Erkan Okay.
Surprisingly there was only two minutes of stoppage time, and Sudbury could do little to prevent Hornchurch seeing out the game.
With thanks to AFC Hornchurch