Great 3-2 win in Velocity Trophy

AFC Susbury entered into Velocity Trophy (League Cup) action last night with a visit to Cheshunt to play FC Romania.
With Mark Morsely unable to make the trip Lee Norfolk took the team.
As expected there was many changes from the teams seen in the first two league matches with seven changes to the starting eleven with only Walker, Frech Dettmar and Whight starting, with joe Whight was given the No.10 shirt .

The evening started with possibly the most entertaining tannoy man in non league football, playing songs from the older generation and just generally having a chat with the crowd, it was a nice welcome.

The match kicked off and after an very tentative opening ten minutes AFC Sudbury started to find a few gaps through the Romanian defence and it was a very good move down the left hand side which saw Mekhi McKenzie break into the penalty area at a very tight angle and with alot of work still to do, he manage to lift the ball over the keeper and into the top right corner of the net for the opening goal on 14 minutes.
Going a goal down seemed to be the boost that FC Romania needed and they then had some very good passing spells and managed to put the AFC defence under pressure a lot. But it was unfortunately a very gifted goal that got the back into the match. AFC gave the ball away in the heart of the defence and with only the keeper to beat Toby Cleaner slotted home from 10 yards making it one a piece after 33 minutes.
Unfortunately this sloppy defending did continue for the remainder of the half with the home team having another couple of chances before the half time whistle.

As the second half was about to get underway Jordan Blackwell entered the match taking the place of Tyler French and Daryl Coakley came on for Joe Whight. This was the change that AFC needed, having Blackwell on the right wing gave AFC more outlets and they managed to create some good chances but not quite enough to get into the lead. (Paul Hayes then made way for Phil Kelly on 63 minutes.)
However, it was the home team who took the lead when on 70 minutes an unfortunate defensive slip gifted Toby cleaver the ball who then stepped left of Walker and slotted home.
Just when it seemed that AFC would be leaving the competition at the earliest stage a great team turnaround followed. The next 15 minutes was all Sudbury. Blackwell down the right getting the ball into the box on several occasions just to narrowly miss connecting with a team mate. But it was from the left side when McKenzie skipped past a defender and cut the ball back across the box just out of the path of the onrushing Kelly, but straight to Blackwell who smashed it home confidently from 10 yards. Immediately after this AFC pressed again and this time Blackwell was sent away down the right wing and once clear of his defender he managed a great cross onto the foot of Phil Kelly who slotted home changed the game totally in the space of 5 minutes.
The game continued to edge towards full time and it was AFC who looked the most likely to score another, great chances from the head of Kelly and Dettmar could have put the tie to bed, but both glanced wide.
The clock continued past full time and with 4 minutes of injury time to play AFC managed to hold strong and enter the next round of the cup.
The unofficial man of the match for AFC was Jordan Blackwell. His introduction at half time changed the outcome of the tie and his never say die performance lifted the team.