After a week off, due to last week’s match postponement, Sudbury welcomed Ransomes Sport to Delphi for what is scheduled as Sudbury’s final match at Delphi this season.

On a warm afternoon, Sudbury started in a positive manner with their defeat from 2 weeks ago seemingly firmly behind them. With two usual starters missing from the match in the form of Captain Natalie Golding and defender Natalie Curtin, opportunities arose for players to come into the team and stake their claim for a spot in the run up to the league cup final. Sudbury’s energetic start to the match was to be rewarded on the 7 minute mark when Jodie Sharp found the net with a shot on the turn just outside the 6 yard box in front of goal.  Sudbury continued to press forward and were to further their lead on the 20 minute mark, Hannah Davies worked herself a space on the right wing before delivering a cross into the box where Charlotte Churchman was able to volley home at the back post.  Ransomes were seeing very little of the ball as Sudbury passed the ball around well and continued to get forward and make chances.  Sudbury’s third goal however was to come from a stroke of luck, in the form of a Mia Bambury cross into the box which bounced over the keeper and into the net. In the last 10 minutes of the half the initial pace of the game had dropped, but despite this Sudbury still managed to increase their lead further before the end of the half. Bambury once again delivered a ball into the box, however this time it was Sudbury player Chloe Mills who smashed the ball into the net from close range.

Half time score AFC Sudbury Ladies 4 – 0 Ransomes Sport Ladies.

The second half saw a much more subdued Sudbury performance as the pace of the match had slowed somewhat, however there were moments of great interchange of play from the centre midfield duo of Emma Squirrell and Mia Bambury. Hannah Davies was also producing some great work on the right in and around the box. However despite their dominance Sudbury failed to find the final touch needed on goal. One of Sudbury’s best chances came courtesy of Emma Squirrell’s cross into the box after she burst down the right hand to find herself in space to deliver the cross, however the ball somehow failed to get a touch in on goal. With 10 minutes remaining in the match a Ransomes player handled the ball in the area and as a result a penalty was awarded. Jodie Sharp took on penalty duties, in the absence of Natalie Golding, and dispatched the ball into the back of the net for Sudbury’s fifth of the match.  Ransomes were to finally get their first shot on goal in the final minutes of the match a feat at which the re-jigged Sudbury defensive line can take great credit for.

The final score AFC Sudbury Ladies 5 – 0 Ransomes Sport Ladies. The match was very much won in the first half and despite their comfortable position Sudbury done well to keep their concentration in the second half and see out the match with a clean sheet in tact.

With Brandon failing to play last week also, the title race goes to the final match of the season for both teams with 1 point currently separating the teams. Sudbury are likely to be playing their final league fixture in a mid-week kick off on Wednesday 27^th April away to Debenham LC.