Richard Howell, Two Goal Man

AFC Sudbury stretched their unbeaten run in the Ryman North to seven games taking a point from this game with two Richard Howell goals, coming back from being two goals down.

There were changes to the team from the previous game with Jack Wignall starting in central defence and Robbie Martin taking over from Daniel Emmanuel on the right hand side of midfield.

The pitch was firmer than of late with the early frost having been thawed by the bright winter sunshine. AFC attacked straight from the kick off and should have been in front after only thirty seconds. Martin got down the right, crossed and Dave Wareham shot hit a defender and went for a corner from which Ryan Henshaw headed over.

Having been two goals up in eight minutes in their last fixture, AFC found themselves two down after the same amount of time in this game. Skidmore was put though the middle of the AFC defence and he let fly with a looping shot from twenty-five yards that went over Danny Gay and into the net. The same player scored the second from an Oates cross come shot that Gay parried and the Romford forward slid home.

It was shock to AFC system, but at least the early goals gave them time to get back into the game.

Romford lost central defender White to injury and before his replacement came on Michael Shinn fired a shot into Johnson’s arms after good work by Richard Howell. Sam Clarke then picked up his sixth booking of the season when he tackled Dicks who seemingly made a meal of it. Ishmail came on for the departed White bringing the visitors back to full strength.

Martin went to take a throw in and Barry the Romford man who had the ball threw it over his head and away. He was cautioned. Romford had another chance when Heywood got down the right and crossed but Oates shot over.

Sloots found his way into the somewhat fussy referee’s notebook for kicking the ball away after conceding a free kick. On thirty-seven minutes AFC pulled a goal back; Martin on the right appeared to be fouled with the assistant flagging, but play carried on and the AFC mans’ cross went to Baker who headed back for Howell to score.

There were three more bookings before the break, Shinn for speaking out of turn, Romford’s Clayton for chopping down James Baker who was carded for speaking out of turn about the tackle.

Half time; AFC Sudbury 1 Romford 2

There was a change at the break with Ashley Sloots staying in the dressing room and Jemel Fox taking over at left back.

Shinn got in a cross that found Howell and then Baker but the AFC forward put it over the visitor’s bar. The equaliser came on fifty-six minutes and was a well-crafted affair.  Baker did well out on the right fed Martin and his cross found the head of Howell in the centre of the six-yard box to head cleanly home.

AFC were now in the ascendancy and should have gone in front when from a Wareham cross Shinn had an effort that came to Baker but somehow it went wide. The ball was probably just behind the AFC striker.

Romford had a rare attack that saw Seymore fire well over the largely redundant Gay’s goal. They then made another substitution with Barry leaving and Messenger taking over, before Dicks was booked for putting his arm sharply across the throat of Martin as the Sudbury man ran forward and away from the Romford defender.

On sixty-six minutes Howell, looking for his hat trick shot and keeper Johnson fumbled but recovered to retrieve the ball. AFC kept up almost constant pressure on the Essex side but could not get in the vital final ball. Romford made their final change with their goal scorer Skidmore going off and Kavanagh coming on, before AFC took Wignall off and put the ever-lively Rhys Drag on.

The AFC change meant going with a three man defence and thrusting men forward in search of a winning goal. From a Shinn free kick Henshaw was unlucky to see his header go just over the bar.

With the referee urging players to take the throw ins at the right place and without wasting time, Ottley fell foul of him and was booked. The final minutes saw all the action in the Romford half and a lot of it in their penalty area, but the winning goal would just not come.

In the end it was a point and eight games without defeat, seven in the league and fifth spot retained.

YNOT