The F.A Trophy run finally came to an end at a boggy Corinthian Casuals ground as AFC were pipped at the death by a very decent Kingstonian side. There is certainly no shame in the defeat and we can take a lot of positives from the game.
As with all our F.A Trophy fixtures this season, this one was played on another filthy day. The pitch was pretty boggy but no worse than at Heybridge the other night.
Kingstonian started fast.. very fast and we did well to fend them off with last ditch challenges and strong goalkeeping while we found our feet in the game. Sure enough though as the game continued we found our way slowly into it and the balance of the game shifted further upfield away from our goal.
To be honest we didn't create too much of note in front of goal. Ben Hunter had an early chance that he should have done better with but was unable to test the keeper. Marksey spun and volleyed one but it didn't cause the keeper too much bother midway through the half.
Ben Hammett picked up quite an early booking for a very Ben Hammett like challenge but it was certainly notable that the referee was quite happy to dish the cards our way but definitely more hesitant of awarding too much against the home team and their reasonably vocal support.
And so the first half went by, we soaked up pressure and attacked sporadically.
After the restart things changed, in the 47th minute..Billy Holland doing well to drive into the box and cut back for Callum Harrison to bag his 5th goal since his return. His 3rd goal in 3 games, driving through a ruck of bodies, it took a deflection off the keeper on the way too but it nestled just fine in the back of the net to spark celebrations with the travelling faithful at that end.
The lead didn't last long however when Kingstonians own Calum.. Davies finished off a close range chance 6 minutes later.
In truth we didn't create much in the 2nd half either but we did make things tough for Kingstonian. They couldn't get into their stride at all and were desperate to avoid a replay on Tuesday night. Unfortunately for Sudbury avoid the replay they finally did when Ban Bennett forced home the ball following a goalmouth scramble 2 minutes from time. The linesman adjudging that the ball had crossed then line..it's no surprise we didn't get that decision but then again there were no strong appeals from us to the contrary so maybe it was a bit more clean cut than it looked from the other end.
We finished the game with ABD alongside Marksey and King up top but couldn't fashion a dramatic late twist. At least we can concentrate on the league now right, with no game next Saturday it is probably a well earned rest.