Last week saw AFC Sudbury come away with 3 points from their away trip to Fakenham. A week on, and Fakenham looked to try and overturn that result when they visited the MEL Group stadium.

Sudbury are still without a keeper and were forced to change the team set up, from the line up that proved so effective last week, as Emma Squirrell pulled on the keepers shirt.

The opening of the game saw both sides having plenty of the ball, with the defences having to work hard. Sudbury were the team with the more decisive approach in getting the ball forward, whilst Fakenham posed the danger on the counter attack. The real attempt on goal came to AFC’s Charlotte Churchman who, from 30 yards out, sent a fierce shot on goal with the keeper making an excellent finger tip save over the bar. The shot was the first of a flurry of chances for AFC with Natalie Golding’s free kick hitting the crossbar. The goal finally came for Sudbury as a result of them working the ball out wide and getting the ball into the box where Jodie Sharp slotted the ball past the keeper.

Sudbury’s grip on the game began to fade as the first half entered into the latter stages and Fakenham equalised on 35 minutes with a scrappy goal as the result of poor defending by Sudbury, which saw 2 missed clearances and a ball rolled across the goal line for an easy tap in at the back post for Fakenham. Despite Sudbury’s pressure on the attack the scores remained level as the half time whistle blew.

Half time score: AFC Sudbury Ladies 1 – 1 Fakenham Town Ladies.

Sudbury took to the field in the second half with Kayleigh Steed filling in for keeper as Emma Squirrell returned out on pitch.

In the opening of the second half Chloe Mills came close to levelling the score when she shook off a defender before seeing her shot go wide of the goal from a close angle.  Sudbury were the team on the attack as the pressure mounted on the Fakenham defence, however it was Fakenham who took the upper hand in the match when they hit Sudbury on the break. The break down the left saw Kayleigh Steed produce an excellent save only for the rebound to be crossed back into the box where an unmarked Fakenham player was able to tap in from close range.

Jodie Sharp was causing the opposition a number of problems and Sudbury once again hit the crossbar from range when Sharp was allowed time to shoot. Minutes later Sudbury were awarded a free kick from 25 yards out which Jodie Sharp fired superbly into the top corner of the net leaving the keeper no chance.  With 15 minutes remaining Sudbury had the momentum and pushed for a winner. Charlotte Churchman, who was having a great game, came close from a corner ball which she sent narrowly wide of the post. A shot from Emma Squirrell late on required another finger tip save from the keeper. Sudbury were doing everything right, other than getting the ball in the net.  Fakenham produced a chance of a winner of their own in the closing moments, but excellent covering in defence from Jess Shepherdson blocked the shot and cleared the danger.

Full time score: AFC Sudbury Ladies 2 – 2 Fakenham Town Ladies.

The match proved an entertaining spectacle for the supporters but Sudbury will feel disappointed at taking only a point from a match which they controlled for the most part, hitting the crossbar twice and having enough chances in front of goal to win the match.

Next week Sudbury are on their travels once more as they make the away trip to face Bungay Town Ladies.