AFC started the game at a very fast pace and put the visitors under pressure for the first fifteen minutes when they had numerous chances to score. They did not take them with Lee Ifield and Bradley Hughes being the main culprits, although on a couple occasions Cleverley in the Melford goal did well to save.

David Lorimer, who along with other first team squad members Jemel Fox, Adam Holmes and Danny Swain were having a run out, was guilty when he could not get a shot away. Swain burst through but with ball on his right foot was unable to convert.

Fox put Ryan Kent away with a great sweeping crossfield ball he fed Lorimer who went passed Luke Simpson on the byline and shot earning a corner.

Melford who had weathered the early storm and from a central free kick the ball came back to Dan Statham who hit a fierce shot that Matt Norton saved well. AFC had new signing central defender Jamie Gregory having a steady game at the back.

Swain was yellow carded for a tackle on the half-hour mark. Lorimer got away and was through but Cleverely came out and saved at his feet. Chris Williamson replied for Melford and ex-AFC man Chris McMahon had an effort tipped over by Norton

It seemed the visitors would go in on level terms, but on the stroke of half time an AFC corner was handled by Statham in the box. Referee Case in a good position immediately pointed to the spot and Kent blasted home for the home side to go in a goal up.

Half-time; AFC Sudbury Reserves 1 Long Melford Reserves 0

The second half started as the second had finished for Melford conceding a goal. The ball was played into the box and Lorimer fed the ball back to Bradley Hughes to score.

Fox was in action at both ends firstly clearing in front of his own goal and then getting forward to shoot over the Melford bar. AFC had to make a change with Jacob Brown being replaced by Danny Smith and Melford exchanged Clarke for Lewis Cawthery at the same time.

Play became a little stale with neither side able to get penetrate and on sixty-five minutes Lee Ifield went off and Aaron Bowmer took over, Melford countered and Dan Manser was replaced by Jordan Gates. Ten minutes later AFC increased their lead after another good ball from Fox to Kent the wide man crossed and Lorimer controlled well and shot home.

Two more changes, Melford changed Jack Durey for Harvey Cawthery and AFC took Hughes off to give Danny dance some game time with eight minutes to play.

AFC scored their final goal on the ninety-minute mark; Fox threaded a ball through the middle of the Melford defence and Lorimer latched onto it. He controlled it well and took on a defender and then rounded the advancing Cleverley to slot home.

It was a win a against a side that has not won this season, but showed enough spirit to give them encouragement for the future. AFC for their part will want to be far more clinical and ruthless in such games.