Sudbury’s five game unbeaten run came to an end on Sunday against a Norwich team that had beaten the Suffolk side twice already this season.

With Kerry Humphreys now unavailable for the season, AFC were forced into reshaping their defensive line.

Sudbury were firmly on top in the opening of the game with impressive movement on and off the ball resulting in a real sense of danger when Sudbury were on the attack. Sudbury’s first real chance on goal came in the 8^th minute when Jodie Sharp headed a Kayleigh Steed cross on goal with the keeper having to produce a save.

With Sudbury posing all the danger, it was no surprise when they took an early lead. Emma Squirrell opened the scoring with a superb left footed strike from the edge of the area, which looped in over the keeper.

Steed then went close herself when she latched onto a corner to shoot from close range, only for a defender to clear off the line.

In the later stages of the half Norwich managed to equalise against the run of play with a simple shot across the keeper. Sudbury however produced the perfect response to regain the lead. Squirrell fed a ball to Kayleigh Steed who managed to beat the keeper to the ball and produce an excellent finish on goal.

The half finished with Sudbury having played some of their best football to date and with more clinical finishing they could have gone into half time with a more comfortable lead.

Half time score: Norwich City Reserves 1 – 2 AFC Sudbury.

Norwich began the second half on the offensive with Sudbury’s performance having seemingly dipped. A warning sign was issued to Sudbury on 53 minutes when Norwich were able to get a shot away which rebounded off the post. Norwich got themselves level from a seemingly nothing chance when a shot going well wide was handled in the box, in what can only be described as a moment of madness from the defender. Norwich’s captain stepped up to take the resulting penalty and Natalie Curtin was powerless to stop the shot, despite having dived the right way.

Having equalised Norwich had the momentum in the match and pushed Sudbury to defend deeper. As Sudbury were pushed back and Mills dropped to defend, Sudbury found themselves with the ball coming back at them as soon as they cleared the danger. Despite Norwich looking the more likely to score, AFC were still able to get the ball forward and pose a threat on the counter attack.

The game was to be decided by an individual stroke of brilliance when a Norwich played picked up the ball out wide on the left and fired the ball in over the keeper.

Full time score: Norwich City Reserves 3 – 2 AFC Sudbury.

Despite the loss Sudbury can be pleased by their performance, especially the outstanding first half display which demonstrated how far the team has progressed this season.

Next up for the ladies is a home game against Cambridge Women’s Reserves at Delphi with a 2pm kick off.