Following a draw away to Brandon on the opening day of the season, Sudbury made the trip away to Ipswich Wanderers in search of their first win of the season. Wanderers remained unbeaten in their first 2 games of the season, and having never beaten Wanderers, Sudbury would need to be on their game to achieve a victory.

In humid conditions it was Sudbury who made the brightest start to the game, working the ball well with great movement on and off the ball. The first 10 minutes proved to be full of goals with Sudbury getting off the mark with just under 5 minutes gone. Natalie Golding delivered a diagonal ball into the Wanderers far post where Jodie Sharp was able to divert the ball into the back of the goal. Despite being on top in the game, Sudbury conceded a sloppy goal just 4 minutes after taking the lead from a ball crossed in from the left. However, Sudbury struck back with the perfect reply less than a minute after conceding the equaliser, with Jodie Sharp combining well with Chloe Mills in the final third of the field. Sharp picked up the ball in the middle of the field before working the ball out wide past a number of Wanderers players, her cross was met by Mills in the box who turned her player superbly and struck the ball past the keeper from close range. Wanderers appeared to have equalised minutes later when the ball was headed into the net, only for it to be disallowed due to being offside. With only 10 minutes gone the score was already 2-1 to Sudbury with Sudbury threatening to add more with their dominance and pressure in the final third. Sudbury deservedly extended their lead on the 25 minute mark. Natalie Golding was fouled on the edge of the area and her resulting free kick hit the cross bar with the rebound being followed up by Chloe Mills to net her second of the match. Mills was quick to complete her hat trick when she burst through the defence on the half hour mark and put the ball past the on rushing keeper.  With the score at 4-1 Sudbury should have been in control, however their performance dipped and subsequently Wanderers were able to find a foot hold in the game as the half entered the later stages. In a near identical goal to the one Sudbury achieved earlier, Wanderers clawed a goal back when a free kick rebounded off the crossbar and, unclaimed by a defender, was dispatched into the net. Wanderers were invigorated by their goal and almost immediately scored a third only to be denied by the feet of keeper Charlotte Churchman. Despite the late surge from Wanderers, Sudbury managed to go into half time with a two goal cushion.

Half time score:  Ipswich Wanderers Ladies 2 – 4 AFC Sudbury Ladies.

The second half began as the first half had finished, with Wanderers firmly in control of the game and Sudbury struggling to retain possession. One Sudbury player who was however making an impact on the game was keeper Charlotte Churchman, who undoubtedly kept Sudbury in the lead with her numerous saves early on in the second half. Churchman was however powerless to prevent Wanderers third goal from a corner, her save from close range rebounded into the path of a Wanderers player who had no problem netting from close range. Sudbury were guilty of wasting possession for much of the second half and failing to close down and allowing Wanderers to play their way back into the game. Sudbury’s chances were few and far between in the second half with their most likely chances being from corners that amounted to little. As Wanderers looked more likely to achieve an equaliser, Sudbury switched to 5 at the back to protect their tender lead and take home the 3 points. In the final minutes Wanderers were through on goal with only Churchman to beat, but once again Churchman was outstanding in the goal mouth and made an excellent save ensuring the win and deservedly being named Player of the Match.

The win gives Sudbury their first win in the Eastern Regions and kick starts their league campaign taking them into the top half of the table, despite having played one less game.  Next Sunday will see the first home game of the season against Haverhill Rovers at Delphi with a 2pm kick off.