The visitors were on the attack straight from kick-off, and the ball was picked up by Chris Gray who shot straight at home ‘keeper Paddi Hawkins.

The Yellows then set up their first attacking stint in the second minute, as Tom Wingfield’s cross was claimed by visiting goalkeeper Darren McCarrick. They had another attack in the ninth minute as Tyler Kemp’s (pictured) long range pass met Jordan Brazitis but he saw his cross blocked by Ben Garnham.

Josh Sheffield was booked in the twelfth minute after pulling down a Stowmarket player outside the area, resulting in a free kick for the visitors. The kick was no trouble for Hawkins who watched as the ball was fired over the bar. At the other end, Brazitis struck a free-kick for the hosts over the Stow goal.

Stowmarket’s pressure paid off in the eighteenth minute, as Baden Holmes crossed the ball into the path of Sean Rea who timed his shot well to fire past Hawkins, to give the visitors the lead.

The visitors, in a changed kit of claret and cbue, came close to a second goal in the 21st minute, as Wayne Proctor sprinted down the left wing, and sent the ball into the box deflecting off Tyler Kemp for a corner. The resulting kick was crossed towards Stefan Marsh, who headed the ball against the right-hand post, and the loose ball was cleared by the Sudbury defence.

Cameron Ward had a shot for the home side in the 29th minute but it was just wide of the goal. Gianfranco Mallardo who was booked for a foul in the 31st minute, then crossed the ball to Tom Wingfield who had a good shot that he fired directly at McCarrick, in one of the last pieces of action of the half.

Half-Time: AFC Sudbury Res/U21’s 0 Stowmarket Town 1

AFC Sudbury’s Tyler Kemp sent the ball towards Tom Wingfield, who was unable to cling onto the long-range pass that was guided out by Reece Ingram for a goal kick.
The Gold and Blacks increased their lead in the 56th minute, when Tom Bradlaugh, an ex-AFC player, fired into the far corner past keeper Hawkins.

The hosts made a double substitution in the 58th minute, as Ben Turner and Jordan Brazitis came off and were replaced by Johnny Kerridge and Richie Abbott.
A minute later Stowmarket were three up. Ben Gardham sent the ball to Wayne Proctor who saw his shot parried away goalkeeper Hawkins into the path of Chris Gray who fired home.

In the 63rd minute, the Yellows made their last change, Josh Sheffield coming off for Sam Last, Tyler Kemp then saw yellow for a late challenge.

The visitors made their first substitute of the afternoon, as Wayne Proctor went off for Darren Brill, with twenty minutes to play. Substitute Brill was called into action soon after, as he received the ball from Attwood, and fired towards Hawkins, who parried the ball away for a corner. The resulting corner saw Bradlaugh’s ball find Rea, who fired over the bar.

Sudbury were once again rescued by the goalpost, after Bradlaugh was unable to guide his shot past Hawkins.

The visitors made their last two changes in the 76th minute, with Ingram and Marsh replaced by Ben Licence and Josh Capocci.

In the 82nd minute Kemp made an excellent run down the wing, and sent the ball towards Kerridge but goalkeeper McCarrick made a diving save to deny the AFC striker. Kerridge was again in action as hedirected his header wide of the post in the 86th minute, while fellow-substitute Richie Abbot slammed the ball straight at goalkeeper McCarrick just before the final whistle.

Full-Time: AFC Sudbury Res/U21’s 0 Stowmarket Town 3

AFC Sudbury Reserves/U21s: Paddi Hawkins, Tyler Kemp, Josh Sheffield (Sam Last 63), Franco Mallardo, Ross Mackay, Kyran Clements, Ben Turner (Johnny Kerridge 58), Jordan Brazitis (Richie Abbott), Cameron Ward, Joe Chester, Tom Wingfield.

Unused Subs: Ollie Rumsey, Alex Breadman
Bookings: Sheffield, Kemp,

Stowmarket Town FC: Darren McCarrick, Baden Holmes, Reece Ingram (Ben Licence 76), Jimmy Attwood (Josh Capocci), Gavin Flurrie, Stefan Marsh, Sean Rea, Ben Garnham, Wayne Proctor (Darren Brill, 70), Tom Bradlaugh, Chris Gray

Attendance: 62

LOUIS BYERS