A. F. C. Sudbury welcomed Bostik South side Chipstead to the King’s Marsh Stadium for this F.A.Cup Second Qualifying match. Danny Laws took charge of the side following the departure of Jamie Godbold and Andy Reynolds in midweek.

A.F.C. Sudbury kicked off the game attacking from left to right as viewed from the Brian Tatum Stand. Four minutes had elapsed when Alfie Carroll intercepted a teasing Chipstead through ball, and sent a fine pass into Tevan Allen who was dispossessed as the visitor’s defence sprung into action.

Chipstead came at their hosts a minute later, but Dylan Pascoe could only send his shot well wide of Paul Walker’s home goal. Sudbury won a ninth minute corner after the onrushing Adam Mills was stopped by a fine defensive tackle. From the resultant left-wing set-piece Dave Cowley delivered a teasing ball which Oliver Pain in the Chipstead goal had to punch twice as the visitors struggled to clear their lines.

Adam Mills did really well to head a Chipstead free-kick to safety from the near post on sixteen minutes and from the resultant home attack Sudbury gained an early lead. Adam Mills delivered a low cross with pace which Sam Clarke turned home to the delight of the home support.

A.F.C. Sudbury were confidence-filled and began to get a real grip on possession. Tevan Allen’s right wing run saw him unleash a drive which was straight at Pain who gathered confidently. Allen then got away down the right wing to deliver a neat cross which Mekhi McKenzie headed over the crossbar on the stretch.

The game was largely being played in the Chipstead half with the Sudbury back four well-organised and rarely troubled by the visitor’s occasional counters. A forty-fourth minute corner from Chris O’Flaherty fell for Liam Harwood who headed wide in a half where Paul Walker had little to trouble him in the home goal. Sam Clarke found the net again in injury-time, but the skipper’s goal was ruled out for a foul.

Half-Time:- AFC Sudbury 1 Chipstead 0

A the start of the half Mekhi McKenzie was replaced by Louis Blake for A.F.C. Sudbury as they strove to add to their narrow advantage. On forty-eight minutes they did just that with another sublime moment from Adam Mills. Twenty-five yards from goal on the left, Mills sent a stunning lob over Oliver Pain who could only watch in disbelief as the ball sailed over his head to nestle in the back of the net.

The excellent Tyler French was cautioned for a foul just outside the home penalty area as Chipstead tried to respond. The free-kick was struck wide of the home goal, but Chipstead continued to battle. Joe Claridge superbly blocked a fierce shot by substitute Erivaldo Felix, and Alfie Carroll also put his body in the way as Sudbury cleared their lines with Julian Smith hitting the ball to safety.

Sam Bell rose to head a Erivaldo Felix free-kick just over the home crossbar as the visitors continued to work hard to get a foothold on this cup-tie. A trademark Adam Mills long throw-in saw Julian Smith glance a header just wide of the goal as Sudbury looked in their turn, to finish off the tie.

On fifty-seven minutes Louis Blake headed a Joe Claridge free-kick just wide of goal as the home side began to turn the screw once again. Tevan Allen became the second A.F.C. Sudbury player to see his goal disallowed after he turned home an Adam Mills cross, offside being the verdict this time.

Tevan Allen was proving a thorn in the defensive side for Chipstead and on seventy-two minutes he stole possession but shot straight at Pain who gathered with comfort. Pain was called on once more on seventy-five minutes when Adam Mills found Louis Blake whose shot was turned past the post for a corner quite brilliantly by the Chipstead ‘keeper.

Dave Cowley’s cross from wide on the left was struck just wide by Adam Mills as the home side continued in dominant form. O’Leary swung a tempting cross into the path of Liam Harwood, but his header went comfortably over the crossbar. Dave Cowley left the park to warm applause to be replace by Ollie Peters with six minutes remaining.

With just three minutes left. Joe Claridge sent a superb pass into Tevan Allen on the edge of the Chipstead penalty area, and he made no mistake with a neat finish past Oliver Pain. Jake Turner then sent an excellently-struck free-kick over the Chipstead crossbar before Sam Bell’s late thunderbolt was brilliantly kept out by Paul Walker in the home goal as another excellent clean-sheet was produced by the home defence.

A.F.C. Sudbury progress to the Third Qualifying round of the Emirates F.A. Cup after this very competent team performance.

The Yellows return to the King’s Marsh on Tuesday evening when Brightlingsea Regent visit in the League Cup. Heybridge Swifts visit on Saturday (September 22nd) when league action returns to Sudbury.

Richard Whiting