F.A. Cup football made its season debut at the MEL Group Stadium with St Ives Town making the journey from Cambridgeshire. Despite heavy rain during the day, the pitch looked, and played superbly proving what an excellent arena it is for exciting passing football.

St Ives kicked off the match attacking the town end of the ground. Sudbury dominated the early exchanges, but it wasn’t until the sixth minute that the first opening was created. Michael Shinn snuffed out a St Ives attack close to half-way and found Dave Wareham on the left wing. His cross caused difficulties for Niall Conroy Owen in the St Ives goal who fumbled the ball against the crossbar and finally the ball was cleared up-field. On eight minutes a Michael Shinn corner from the left wing was cleared, but fell to Sam Clarke who blasted the ball high over the crossbar. Danny Gay was called upon to save a weak shot from Jamie Alsop on nine minutes as St Ives pressed forward for the first time.

On eleven minutes Robbie Martin tackled superbly to break up a St Ives attack, Sudbury eventually winning a throw. Ashley Sloots provided the throw which James Baker headed through to David Lorimer who was tackled well as he attempted to get a shot away. Stuart Cobb’s overhead kick went high over the home crossbar after a good build up from St Ives, but it was Sudbury who took the lead in the 16^th minute. The ball crossed the St Ives penalty area and David Lorimer slammed the ball

David Lorimer

home to break the deadlock. Just three minutes late Sudbury doubled their advantage. Sloots fine ball over the top to Dave Wareham saw the Sudbury number eleven cross for David Lorimer to score from close range.

Two minutes on and a fine move involving Sloots, Shinn and Wareham saw the latter just over-run the ball as Sudbury swept forward. On twenty-five minutes Conor Washington broke forward, but his shot was an easy gather for Danny Gay. James Baker was released by a fine ball from David Lorimer, but the striker’s shot was easily saved by Conroy Owen. On the half-hour Sudbury were nearly gifted a bizarre goal when Conroy Owen’s clearance struck Dave Wareham and the ball flew past the unguarded goal. Three minutes before the break Dave Wareham’s left wing corner flashed through the six yard area evading attack and defence alike as Sudbury strove to extend their advantage before the break. Michael Shinn sent a speculative drive wide of the goal as Sudbury ended the half very much on top.

H-T 2-0

Sam Clarke was booked on fifty-one minutes for a heavy challenge as tempers temporarily flared. St Ives continued to refuse to be beaten and had their reward on the hour. Jamie Alsop sent a slide-rule pass long to Conor Washington who finished superbly past Danny Gay. Washington turned in the box and fired over the crossbar six minutes later and ex-A.F.C. Sudbury man Ozzie Foster fired over a minute later.

Sudbury were now finding it difficult to hold onto the ball, playing against the strengthening wind which was certainly making live for both sides difficult. Sam Clarke got a rare shot away on seventy-three minutes, but it was an easy save for Conroy Owen.

Two-goal man David Lorimer was replaced on seventy-five minutes by Danny Emmanuel. With ten minutes left Danny Gay tipped away a St Ives corner and Dave Wareham shot over the bar as both sides pressed hard. St Ives completed their comeback with six minutes remaining when Tom Devaux’s clearing header dropped into the path of Conor Washington who made no mistake with a cool finish.

F-T 2-2

Extra Time 1

Nathan Clarke replaced Jack Wignall at the start of the extra half-hour. On 92 minutes a Dave Wareham corner was hacked away from the goal-line by St Ives and Michael Shinn went wide from twenty yards following a poor clearance. On ninety-seven minutes Danny Emmanuel worked some space to get a shot away, but the save was straightforward for Conroy Owen.

Robbie Martin knocked the ball up-field for Sudbury following a clearance off the line which had almost seen the visitors take the lead. The opening period of extra-time ended with Richard Howell forcing a fine save from Conroy Owen.

Extra Time 2

Robbie Martin flashed a shot wide on one-hundred and nine minutes. Danny Emmanuel then found Dave Wareham who blazed his shot over the crossbar when perhaps he had more time to tee-up his shot. It was Danny Emmanuel who was calling the shots for Sudbury and no surprise when he worked enough space on the right edge of the penalty area and finished superbly with the ball nestling in the bottom left corner of the net. Sudbury held on against a valiant St Ives who more than played their part in an entertaining cup tie.

AFC now travel to Leiston on 17th September.