AFC played the first of two games against their Suffolk neighbours, this one in the Quarter-Final of the Suffolk Premier Cup, and they went out of the competition losing to a goal deep into stoppage time.

Manager Chris Tracey introduce new signing 26 year-old central defender James Smith to his side and was able to recall the fit again Adam Dalby who took up an usual role for him playing in midfield just in front of the back four. Rhys Darg was fit enough to be on the bench, but missing his first game of the season was wide man Dave Wareham, out with a hamstring injury.

Leiston, led by ex-AFC manager Mark Morsley, included no less than nine players previous with Sudbury in their sixteen man squad, goalkeeping coach Nathan Munson, physio Ian Vernua were also on the bench, while another ex King’s Marsh favourite, Neil Calver was suspended.  An interested spectator at the game was former AFC striker Sam Banya.

The first half on the tie was very subdued with both sides seemingly trying each other out. Michael Brothers was prominent up front for the opposition, but new man Smith appeared to settle down well and organised the home back four.

Midway through the half Ottley-Gooch got through but Danny Gay in the home goal, now AFC’s only ever-present player came out well to deny him.

AFC had a chance on twenty-five minutes following a left sided free kick the ball coming off James Baker’s head on to Leiston defenders and finally onto Smith head but he could not direct it goal ward. Danny Emmanuel, not having one of his better games was guilty of getting forward well but lost the ball under his own feet. Baker then skied a shot so high it went over the netting behind the goal, whether the ball was every found in the wilderness, who knows?

AFC survived a scare just before the interval when Gareth Heath got down the right and cracked a first time shot that had Gay beaten, however there was the reliable Nathan Clarke to get in a great block to keep the scores level.

Half time; AFC Sudbury 0 Leiston 0

The second period was much more lively affair and had an unpleasant sting in the tail for the home side.

AFC started brightly with Fox having a good run down the left and then Michael Shinn, making his fiftieth appearance shooting over, before Nathan Clarke brought out a save from Johnson in the visitors goal.

Leiston had a chance to go ahead in the seventieth minute but Michael Brothers was held up and then shot wide with Gay coming out to narrow the angle. The same player then had another chance but missed again before Nathan Stone put the ball over the AFC bar.

Brothers went off to be replaced by Smy and shortly afterwards Leiston took the lead. Ryan Henshaw in the right back position was guilty of giving the ball away to Stone went goal ward and his shot was initially parried by Gay, but fell to Heath who calmly slotted the ball home, with fifteen minutes of the game left.

Shane Wardley was substituted with Rhys Henry coming on. Henshaw then appeared to have paid the price for his earlier mistake and was taken off with Darg taking over. Leiston then made their last change with Stuart Boardley going off with Luke Hammond being his replacement.

The changes seem to unsettle them as AFC powered forward in search of a leveller.  Shinn hit a fierce shot that Johnson tipped over for a corner and from it produced another finger tipped save this time from Nathan Clarke. He was not so good from the subsequent corner, failing to collect it and the ball fell to Clarke again and he headed home. The goal coming with five minutes of normal time left. In trying to defend the corner that led to the goal David Head was injured. He received treatment for some time and when he came back on it was bad enough for him to only play a bit part up front.

It seemed that extra-time was looming and that the visitors would have to play it with a ‘wounded’ man up front. It was not to be as in the fourth minute of added on time Henry found Stone with a neat through ball and the Leiston forward went on to steer the ball into the AFC net for the winner.

It was perhaps a little harsh on the home side as for the second period they seemed to have just about shaded the game, but in the end you have to defend correctly until the final whistle.

AFC will look for revenge in their next game against them in four days time when the more important matter of three Ryman League points will be at stake.

YNOT